What's Happening

Wellington's award-winning conservation attraction Karori Sanctuary has been launched under the new brand name Zealandia by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key.

The new brand precedes the unveiling of the Sanctuary's state-of-the-art visitor experience in 2010, the biggest eco-tourism development currently underway in New Zealand.

'Zealandia' is the name of a lost landmass that broke away from the super-continent Gondwana 80 million years ago, with the islands of New Zealand being nearly all that survives of this vanished continent.

"We chose the name Zealandia because that is really where our story started" said Nancy McIntosh-Ward, CEO of the Karori Sanctuary Trust which manages Zealandia.

"New Zealand may call itself the youngest country on earth, but the incredible diversity of our flora and fauna has been at least 80 million years in the making!"

David Perks, CEO of Positively Wellington Tourism, applauded the Trust on its vision.

"Zealandia is a very emotive, powerful brand and experience. It's perfectly positioned for Wellington's international tourism markets, as well as being something that all New Zealanders can be proud of and enjoy."

The unique combination of its international reputation for cutting-edge conservation and its extraordinary positioning less than 10 minutes' drive from central Wellington make Zealandia a must do on any visitor's itinerary.

Zealandia's current product offerings are the two hour daytime Sanctuary Escape Tour and Sanctuary by Night Tour and the one hour Sanctuary Introduction tour. Information and pricing on the Zealandia product incorporating the new Visitor Centre will be released at TRENZ in 2009.

To see more the new exciting brand, visit Zealandia.

Or contact:
Jo Heaton, International Marketing Manager, Positively Wellington Tourism
+64 4 916 1208
+64 21 648 416