NZ wildlife sanctuary wins global award
11 Nov 2010
Zealandia - the native wildlife sanctuary in the heart of Wellington city that’s home to some of New Zealand’s most endangered species - has won a significant international conservation award for responsible tourism.
Best known as Zealandia: the Karori Sanctuary Experience, the urban reserve has been awarded the ‘Best for conservation of wildlife & habitats’ section of the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the most respected of their type, in the world.
Last year South Island wildlife experience, Whale Watch Kaikoura, won the supreme award and also the ‘marine environment’ category - the second year in a row that New Zealand had won the top award.
Just announced in London, judges for the 2010 Responsible Tourism Awards said it was Zealandia’s exceptional vision that gave the sanctuary an edge on other competitors from around the world.
Ambitious vision
Since the wildlife sanctuary set in a bush-clad valley just a few minutes’ drive from downtown Wellington was established in 1999, it has become a haven for some of New Zealand’s rarest native birds and animals.
The multi-million dollar project involved creating a predator-free eco-sanctuary which would return part of Wellington city to its pre-human condition -when the islands of New Zealand were a sanctuary for unique species that had survived from prehistoric days.
Judges said that Zealandia’s 500-year vision made it immediately stand out as an ambitious conservation initiative that engaged with tourism to secure local support.
"But when you’re trying to return an area to a time before humans - over 80 million years ago - it is this vision that is required," the judges said.
Mainland island
Zealandia has been modelled on New Zealand’s island conservation programmes, becoming a ‘mainland island’ with predator-proof fencing and extensive native planting.
Judges applauded work that had already been done to create a safe haven for endangered native species.
"The ecological restoration of this urban wildlife sanctuary is well underway and through the removal of invasive species has enabled the successful reintroduction of species," said judges at the awards ceremony in London.
When it was established, the Zealandia urban sanctuary was hailed as a world-first in conservation and has won other international awards.
In 2009 it was named by a leading international ecologists’ group as among Australasia’s top conservation projects. In 2010 The Guardian (UK) newspaper selected Zealandia as one of the top 75 green tourism companies in the world.
Rare wildlife
Zealandia has become a popular tourist attraction - the central location providing an easy option for visitors to Wellington city and offering an experience that is unique in an urban environment.
More than 35km of bush tracks and paths criss-cross the 225-hectare park, with regenerating forest and wetlands providing walks and activities for visitors of all ages and fitness levels.
Native species now inhabiting the sanctuary include New Zealand’s rare ‘living dinosaur’ the tuatara, the ferocious giant weta insect, and threatened birds like the flightless kiwi, and brown teal duck - one of the world’s rarest ducks - all of which are at risk in the wild.
Responsible Tourism
New Zealand has featured prominently in the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, which were established in 2004 and run in association with World Travel Market, Metro Newspaper and Geographical Magazine.
As well as Whale Watch Kaikoura taking the 2010 top award and the marine environment category, New Zealand backpackers hostel YHA Wellington City won the ‘large accommodation’ award.
In 2008 New Zealand was again named overall winner - judges saying the country had proved it was possible to develop a national strategy that used tourism to help make better places to live and visit.
New Zealand also won the ‘best destination’ category of the 2008 awards.
More than 2000 organisations, individuals and destinations in 13 categories were nominated for this year’s awards which included ‘best for poverty reduction’, ‘best volunteering organisation’, ‘best personal contribution’ and ‘best accommodation for the environment’.
2010 winners
Hideaway Resort - Nihiwatu (Indonesia) was declared overall winner of the 2010 Awards.
Justin Francis, founder of the Responsible Tourism Awards and managing director of responsibletravel.com, said he was heartened by the depth of commitment and connection the 2010 winners had shown to the local communities in their destinations.
"Their successes and pioneering spirits are remarkable and the very real and authentic experiences they have created, set responsible tourism apart.
"They also remind us that holidays can be both luxurious for visitors and enhancing for local people - helping build schools, water pumps, clinics and conserving cultural and natural heritage," Francis said.
More information
Zealandia: The Karori Sanctuary Experience
New Zealand reigns supreme in responsible tourism
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