Ngā Manu Winter Speaker Series Launches 21 May With Zealandia CEO Danielle Shanahan

WAIKANAE, Kāpiti Coast — Ngā Manu Nature Reserve is proud to launch the 2025 Winter Speaker Series on Wednesday 21 May with a compelling talk by Dr Danielle Shanahan, CEO of Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne, and a leading voice in regenerative tourism and urban ecological restoration.

Danielle will speak on “Zealandia: The Sanctuary that Changed a Nation”, sharing how a bold vision for nature restoration in Wellington helped reverse biodiversity loss and sparked a movement that’s now influencing urban environments across the globe. Drawing on powerful visuals and years of impact data, Danielle will explore:

"how regenerative tourism has helped reverse the loss of nature in Wellington amidst a global context of biodiversity decline. I will show you visual evidence of this change, outline the social movement that made this possible, and unpack what it means for people’s health and wellbeing. By focusing on hope and pragmatic optimism, we can create a better future for people and nature.”

Guests are invited to arrive at 1:00pm for complimentary tea and coffee, with the talk beginning at 1:30pm at Ngā Manu Nature Reserve in Waikanae. Entry is by koha (donation).

Danielle is an internationally recognised researcher and conservation practitioner, currently CEO at Zealandia and Adjunct Professor at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. She has made significant advances in improving biodiversity outcomes and quantifying the social, physical, and mental wellbeing benefits of nature.

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“It’s a privilege to have Danielle open our 2025 series,” says Anna McKenzie Hawea, from Ngā Manu. “Her work at Zealandia has been transformational and offers inspiration and practical insight into the future of conservation in Aotearoa.”

2025 Winter Speaker Series Line-Up

Held annually and supported by Royal Society Te Apārangi, the Winter Speaker Series brings together an exciting line-up of scientists, storytellers and conservationists. This year’s programme includes:

21 May – Dr Danielle Shanahan, CEO of Zealandia:
Zealandia: The Sanctuary that Changed a Nation

4 June – Professor Michael Knapp, University of Otago:
Conservation Genomics and the Future of Biodiversity

18 June – Speaker TBC

2 July – Dr Heidi Meudt, Te Papa Botanist:
Why New Zealand’s Forget-Me-Nots Are So Special

16 July – Giselle Clarkson, Illustrator of NZ Geographic & Critter of the Week: Drawing the Natural World

23 July – Paul Ward & Jeff Hall, Capital Kiwi Project:
Bringing Kiwi Home: Community, Conservation, and the Return of Aotearoa’s Icon to Wellington’s Backyard

This series is a must for anyone passionate about Aotearoa’s wildlife and its protection—from Forest & Bird members and science students to creatives, conservationists and curious locals.

For the full line-up and updates, visit: Winter Speaker Series | Kāpiti Coast | Ngā Manu Nature Reserve – Nga Manu

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