Wellington Zoo Te Nukuao

Wellington Zoo Te Nukuao Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo is New Zealand’s first Zoo, and Wellington’s oldest conservation organisation, saving wildlife and wild places since 1906.
(7169)

Adult: $26/Ch: $14

12/06/2026

As her very last week as Chief Executive comes to a close, here are some quickfire questions with Karen Fifield to celebrate 20 years at Te Nukauo Wellington Zoo!

We want to extend our gratitude to Karen, for her tenacity, her vibrant spirit and her unwavering passion for people and animals.

Alongside her Chief Executive role, Karen has also been the President of the Zoo and Aquarium Association Australasia, and is currently the Immediate Past-President of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).

Anyone who knows her well knows that the word ‘retirement’ is strictly banned – she is simply off on a new path and will continue her lifelong journey of advocating for animals.

Karen has written an article to reflect on the last 20 years and her experience at the Zoo; click the link below to read it!

https://www.wellingtonzoo.com/news/a-look-back-on-20-years-leading-te-nukuao-wellington-zoo

Ngā mihi Karen 💜 It’s not goodbye, it’s just see you later for your next adventure 🌍

📸 Te Nukuao Wellington Zoo Team and Photographer Sebastian Blair

Conservation

Help us name the Baby Chimp! 🐵We need your help choosing one of the 4 name options for our newest Troop member at the li...
10/06/2026

Help us name the Baby Chimp! 🐵

We need your help choosing one of the 4 name options for our newest Troop member at the link below:

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=B62H8XBPcU2agN-wGRV4rsK6_CGx2rxNrYOBM-C5EjdUODM2MFBINThHNE1HVkVLWTlIU0c3WFJLUi4u

Baby Chimp was born over Easter weekend, on the first ever annual Jane Goodall Day, and in the same month as the Zoo’s 120th birthday, so she certainly knows how to make a splash!

Names are an important way of showing where the animals at Te Nukuao whakapapa from. We worked with our conservation partner, Fauna & Flora Liberia Programme, and others to narrow her name down to four options, whose origins and meanings would reflect our littlest Chimpanzee the best.

Head to the poll above to vote for the name you think is the most fitting! 🔗

P.S - When you vote, you can also go in the draw to win a Zoo Crew membership so you can visit Baby Chimp as much as you like and watch her grow up 🥹 Watching her grow stronger and bigger each day is a magnificent experience that we want to share.

You have until Friday 19th June to place your vote. We can’t wait to find out what her name is 💛


📸 Photographer Glenn Tocher, Keeper Anya and Primates Team

Can you hear the bells? 🔔 (Over the sound of Gibbons singing and Lions roaring?) A huge congratulations to Ayla and Rya...
08/06/2026

Can you hear the bells? 🔔 (Over the sound of Gibbons singing and Lions roaring?)

A huge congratulations to Ayla and Ryan, who celebrated their beautiful wedding in the wildest of ways here at Te Nukauo last year!

If you’d rather have a Flower Giraffe than a Flower Girl, or fancy a Best Lemur to go alongside your Best Man, don’t forget you can book out the Zoo and share your special day with some of the earth’s most special creatures 💞

Get in contact with our Venues team at https://www.wellingtonzoo.com/venues to learn more!

Happy Meerkat Monday everyone! Slay the day🐾 📸 Keeper Anya
08/06/2026

Happy Meerkat Monday everyone! Slay the day🐾

📸 Keeper Anya

04/06/2026

Have you seen these orange and black stripes stalking you throughout the city, weaving behind buildings and pouncing at bus stops? Our infamous Tiger bus has made quite the splash!

Next time you head to the Zoo, remember you can catch the bus. The bus helps you to:

🧡 Look after te taiao by reducing your carbon emissions
🧡 Conserve fuel
🧡 Never run out of parking time at the Zoo
🧡 And, especially with these stripes, pull up in style 😎

We’ll see you at the bus stop right outside the Zoo! Rawr 🐅

When it comes to looking after the biggest baby in town, it really does take a village! 🦒 Nia, our two- year-old Giraff...
04/06/2026

When it comes to looking after the biggest baby in town, it really does take a village! 🦒

Nia, our two- year-old Giraffe, has undergone a variety of tests over the past few months as our Veterinary and Animal Care teams work to investigate an ongoing respiratory issue.

After going through all the non-invasive options available, the decision was made to proceed with a full examination under general anaesthetic. Putting such a large animal under anaesthesia is always complex and carries significant risk, which is why all hands were on deck!

Following weeks of meticulous planning involving more than 50 dedicated staff and specialists, the teams successfully carried out lots of tests, including bloodwork, x-rays, an ultrasound, an endoscopy and an echocardiogram, with great care and precision.

The team found signs of mild chronic inflammation in Nia’s trachea and lungs. While this isn’t a specific diagnosis, we were able to rule out infectious diseases as well as several serious respiratory conditions and can confirm that Nia has a perfectly healthy heart! Post procedure, Nia is back to her usual vivacious self and continues to receive monitoring and expert care.

A huge thank you to everyone involved in this gargantuan task, including the Veterinary Team and Keepers who stayed overnight to monitor her closely, Massey University - Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa's Anaesthesia and Equine Veterinary Specialists, Zoo Hoofstock Trim Program trained Farrier Ben Bateman, and Veterinarian Rich Sim from , who all ensured Nia received the highest standard of care throughout her operation.

The amount of existing research on Giraffe coughs is minimal, which is why we are so grateful to our passionate and skilled staff and partners for their help with Nia’s case. Ngā mihi for your dedication and teamwork to help us make sure Nia is as happy and healthy as possible!

03/06/2026

No more counting dollars 🤚🛑 We’ll be counting SKINKS 🦎

We are so happy to report that after the annual Whitaker’s Skink Stocktake with and two private holders, we have taken in 17 new baby Whitaker’s Skinks as part of the Whitaker’s Skink Recovery Programme.

All up, we now hold 45 of the remaining 75 known individiuals from the Pukerua Bay population – that’s more than 66% of all known individuals!

Holding these Skinks is critical for the species’ survival, as they are now presumed locally extinct in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. One day, we hope to be able to breed and release these Skinks where they can thrive in the wild.

Me Tiaki, Kia Ora! We must look after the environment, so all life will flourish.

01/06/2026

Calling all party animals – you can get 20% off everything on our online store until the end of June! 🛍️

Now is the perfect time to stock up on our brand new Glow in the Dark Fahlo bracelets, plushies, toys, socks, and more – ideal for smashing out a few pressies for friends and family (or for yourself 👀)

Trust us, they’re all the rave 🪩🕺✨ Get shopping at the link below:

https://wellingtonzooshop.com/

*Sale runs until June 30th and does not include gift cards or gifts for our animals*

It’s World Parrot Day 🦜 Aotearoa is lucky to be home to the world’s only Alpine parrot – the Kea 💚 Kea are highly intel...
30/05/2026

It’s World Parrot Day 🦜

Aotearoa is lucky to be home to the world’s only Alpine parrot – the Kea 💚

Kea are highly intelligent, sociable, and as you probably already know, extra cheeky! It’s important to protect them as they are an endangered species in NZ.

We’re proud to support the Kea Conservation Trust to carry out nest monitoring, track radio and satellite tagged Kea in wild places, and inspire local communities to care for this taonga species.

There’s never a dull day with our three Kea, Fern, Te Anau and Murray – come along to Te Nukuao to see these gorgeous birds up close!

📸 Keeper Ben, Keeper Anya, Ranger Emily, Ranger Myles, Photographer Mark Anderson

Address

200 Daniell Street, Newtown
Wellington
6021

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5pm
Friday 9:30am - 5pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5pm
Sunday 9:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+6443816755

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Wellington Zoo Te Nukuao posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category