Auckland Zoo Te Wao Nui Development Progress

zooboy28

zooboy28

Well-Known Member
The new New Zealand precinct at Auckland Zoo, Te Wao Nui (the living realm) is about halfway through construction now. A sneak-peek is possible everyday at 12.30, where volunteers take you onto the Old Stone Bridge and you can see most of the area under development. The construction work is really picking up pace, and is expected to be completed in July, although the animals then need to be settled in before it opens to the public. Some information is availbale on Auckland Zoos website: Auckland Zoo - Auckland Zoo - Te Wao Nui, but the following review gives more info:

SPOILER ALERT: Do not read further if you just want to wait until it opens in September!:D

The development is split into six zones, and I have created a rough plan of the precinct based on my observations on Sunday (which is not to scale, and probably includes some errors, as I didnt take any photos), which you can see here:

http://www.zoochat.com/14/te-wao-nui-development-plan-211830/

The first zone is The Coast, which is the Sea Lion/Fur Seal exhibit, plus the refubished shore-bird aviary, which currently holds: Little Blue Penguins, White-faced Heron and Spotted Shag, and possibly the NZ Dotterals. This is now open, and the larger improved aviary looks great. From this, a path leads into the second part of Te Wao Nui...

Islands is built over the old hippo enclosure, which has largely disappeared. It includes replicas of a Whare (Maori meeting house) and a large Kauri Dam, which is pretty impressive. There is also a large aviary here, I'm not sure if this is walkthrough or not. Species which will be displayed here include: Tuatara, Campbell Island Teal and Antipodes Island Parakeet, and some other skinks/geckos. A new boardwalk, which runs across the stream and then under the Old Stone Bridge (parallel to the existing path), takes you to the third zone...

Wetlands is built on top of the old Sea Lion pool, which I'm a bit sad about, cos it was a nice exhibit, especially for the waterfowl it held until recently. This will be a large walkthrough aviary, which is backed by a high mock-rock wall. It will hold: Kotuku, Pied Stilt, Sacred Kingfisher, Ducks (Shovellers, Scaup, Grey Teal, Paradise Shelducks) and native Eels. Exiting the aviary, you can either go left and exit the precinct, ot continue right into...

The Night Forest, which is a great big shed built on the site of the old aquarium, which has also been demolished. The building is in place, and hidden from the Wetland zone by the mock-rock. It will hold: North Island Brown Kiwi, Morepork and Short-tailed Bats. Exiting this building, you walk back under the Old Stone Bridge, on the old path, and reach the next zone...

The Forest is basically the old walk-through Free-flight aviary, although, as I understand it, it has been completely replaced, and is no longer partitioned off at the back. This will hold: Kokako and presumably Tui, Bellbirds, Silvereye, Kaka, Kakariki (red and orange), Brown Teal and Wood Pigeons, but I wasn't specifically told that. The pre-existing Native Frog Research Centre is also part of this zone, and past that you come to the final zone...

The High Country is built on the old Llama paddocks, and appears to contain two aviaries, one of which looks finished. The first (unfinished), is smaller and taller, and has a mock-rock back wall. The second is quite low looking, and has been fully planted up. The animals to be exhibited in this zone are: Kea (presumably in the first aviary) and Blue Duck and Weka (presumably in the second). This area will also hold some skinks (guessing Otago/Grand), and a childrens playground. It also has a large wooden Kea sculpture, already in place, which looks quite cool. After passing the second aviary, you head a cross a newly constructed bridge, and out of Te Wao Nui (in the region of the Hippo River entry).

I'm not quite sure where all the species are going, (the ones I've mentioned are in the right zones), for example Banded Rails could go in the Wetland or Forest zones. Flax and Kauri Snails will probably go in the Forest zone, as will the Giant Centipedes. The Cave Weta will probably be in the Night Forest, with the Wetapunga may be shown in the Islands zone. They are going to display 9 species of native fish, which I'm guessing will be mostly in the Wetlands, although some of the upland species may be in the High Country. There will be 6 gecko and 7 skink species displayed, probably throughout most zones. Little surprised they aren't planning on displaying NZ Falcon, but they are certainly showing all the other species expected!

Overall, the development looks really great, and I'm looking forward to seeing it open!:D
 
Its good to hear the number of native invertebrates and fish they will be exhibiting. Especially in the former, NZ has some spectacular species and zoos do so little with them.

The whole plan sounds really good overall.

With the old Aquarium gone, is there going to be a new (exotic) reptile house/area somewhere in the zoo?
 
@zooboy28: thanks for the detailed information! I have been following the progress at Auckland Zoo from far away, and it is great to see that the final complex is less than 6 months from its great unveiling.
 
@Chlidonias: With half of Reptile Row demolished for the Tamarin/Marmoset exhibit, there are now only seven exotic reptile species on display in the zoo, and as far as I know no plans for any new exhibits. I'm one of those people who dislike the idea of Reptile Houses, and think reptiles (as well as birds, fish, inverts etc) should be scattered around the appropriate biogeographic area with the mammals. (Getting a bit off topic here, but red-eared terrapins could be incorporated in to the Alligator exhibit, there are some spare areas with water that they could utilise in that area).

When the Kiwi House is closed following the opening of Te Wao Nui, that building could be utilised as a (hopefully temporary reptile house). No plan for the future of that area of the zoo has yet been announced, but I don't expect it to be open to the public, more likely it will become part of the education area.

@Snowleopard: will you be making a trip over in September?:D
 
recent article:
Native focus for $16m zoo project - environment | Stuff.co.nz
2 June 2011

Some of New Zealand's most precious native plants and animals will soon be put on display in Auckland Zoo as part of its new $16 million project.

The Te Wao Nui precinct will attempt to recreate six different New Zealand habitats - the coast, the islands, the wetlands, the night, the forest and the high country - and will be inhabited by over 100 native plants and 60 animal species.

Encompassing nearly 25 per cent of the zoo's 17 hectares, the precinct is the largest project undertaken by the zoo in its 88-year history.

Zoo director Jonathan Wilcken said the precinct would give visitors an opportunity to see some of the country's rarest and most beloved species up close, as well as playing an important conservation role.

"A lot of our native flora and fauna is not immediately obvious and we want people to be able to take a little bit of time to see and appreciate some of the species that you might see flitting past you rather than large, obvious animals."

While the zoo had long been involved in breeding, raising and translocating native species, much of its work had been behind the scenes and the precinct would allow zoo staff to share their work with the public.

Te Wao Nui would also increase the zoo's capacity to help with breeding and rehabilitation programmes, he said.

Some of the animals to be put on display have never been in zoos before, such New Zealand's only native land mammal - the short tailed bat, a creature which scurries along the forest floor on its elbows but can also fly.

Other animals for display include North Island brown kiwi, carnivorous kauri snail, Archey's frog, morepork, banded kokopu, North Island saddleback, North island kaka, kea, orange-fronted parakeet, and Otago skink.

Aucklanders will have an opportunity to get a sneak preview of the precinct's forest display on Saturday to mark Word Environment Day.

Te Wao Nui is expected to be open in early September.
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Te Wao Nui Nearing Completion

Sounds like the people building Te Wao Nui are just about finished. There is a photo of one of the new aviaries, apparently to hold blue duck and kea, on the link.

Beastly job at Auckland Zoo - Business - NZ Herald News

Building the biggest development project in Auckland Zoo's 88-year history had unique challenges, with contractors in fluorescent vests attracting animals who sometimes identify the bright jackets with being fed.

So when a cheetah stopped to lick the salt off a sweaty construction worker one day, the man knew the drill.

"All the workers were told not to run. So he froze," explains Shane Brealey, managing director of NZ Strong which won the $16 million contract to redevelop a quarter of the zoo.

Six new precincts have been developed to showcase New Zealand - the forest, the high country, the coast, the wetlands, the islands and the night. Walkways, plants, rocks, buildings, bridges, rivers and enclosures have been developed to show off these New Zealand habitats.

And soon the inhabitants will arrive, shifted from other parts of the zoo.

Four new mesh bird enclosures, spanning about 5000sq m, are up. A replica kauri dam has been developed, thousands of native species including full-height cabbage trees have been transplanted and yesterday the builders hosted a party for 250 to thank all those involved.

"We clocked up 4000km from walking trucks into the site at 5km/h because going through a live zoo, people had to be stationed in front of each truck as well as behind and with heavy loads at the sides as well," Brealey said.

Brealey is the construction boss who in 2004, after 15 years working for Australian firms and then as Multiplex Construction's managing director, decided to form his own business.

He had led Multiplex's push into New Zealand, but said seven years ago he had "a Jerry Maguire moment" when he decided he had the skills and contacts to leave a large corporate.

Like Tom Cruise in the movie about a sports executive who leaves a large conglomerate, Brealey said he realised he was no longer happy working for big business and would gain more satisfaction starting from scratch.

"NZ Strong was designed to do precisely this sort of job," Brealey said. His firm's founding ethos is based on patriotism and Kiwi pride.

Since 2004, the business has won contracts worth $220 million and this year alone will complete projects worth $50 million.

"In the last three years, we've done $29 million, $37 million and now $50 million so if this is a recession, bring it on."

Much of Brealey's order book is filled by the public sector, with a quarter for Auckland Council and a quarter for public transport agencies.

"We don't build residential. We don't work for private developers who are undercapitalised. We don't work more than two hours from Auckland because we like to sleep in our own beds at night.

"We don't do CBD high rise," he said.

Other NZ Strong jobs lately are a $2.5 million platform widening at Kingsland Railway Station ready for the Rugby World Cup, a $16.6 million project for Fletcher Construction at New Lynn Railway Station and a $10.9 million job building the new Motat aviation hall.
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there's a video on that link too, which shows the aviary very nicely
 
they do all look really good. It'll be interesting to see how they stack up in real life.
 
nice find Shirokuma. It does look most excellent. The Nocturnal House, Forest Aviary and High Country Aviary in particular all look great.
 
Opening Date Announced

Opening Date: Noon, 11 September 2011, announced in this article: Zoo's biggest project near completion, Auckland • Localist

Most interesting detail is that Archey's Frogs will also be displayed in the nocturnal house, I think this is the first time this species (and the short-tailed bats?) has ever been displayed properly (ie. in a nocturnal house).

Next month, visitors to Auckland Zoo will be greeted by something they’ve never seen before. A whole new precinct filled with native New Zealand flora and fauna.

Te Wao Nui, the name for six new NZ habitats, covers a fifth of the zoo’s 17-hectare land and will open on September 11. The $16m project is partly funded by Auckland Council ($9.4m) and the rest through funds raised by the Auckland Zoo Charitable Trust. It is the largest and most significant project in the zoo’s 88-year history.

Localist was given an exclusive behind-the-scenes preview of Te Wao Nui by Auckland Zoo director Jonathan Wilcken. None of the animals had gone in yet and the finishing touches were still being built, but the excitement in the air is palpable.

“Te Wao Nui is a project that has been 15 years in the making,” says Jonathan as we walk through an entrance way, decorated by wooden pillars called ‘dolphins’. Jonathan explains that each habitat has been built to represent an important segment of the NZ ecosystem. The zoo worked closely with the Department of Conservation and Ngati Whatua o Orakei.

“We want people to come in and find things out for themselves. There is a strong element of interactivity to the habitats. The whole idea of Te Wao Nui is to bring people into the zoo, and if we make the section really fun, then people will stay that extra time.”

Auckland Zoo's newest attraction

More than 100 native NZ plants and 60 animal species will call Te Wao Nui home when it is completed. Large Maori artworks will feature throughout the habitats, created by artists Bernard Makoare, Lyonel Grant and Manos Nathan.

Localist's special tour starts off with The Coast (Takutai), a rugged, windswept terrain which is an important reminder that NZ has the world’s tenth-longest coastline. When complete, the coast will house fur seals, little blue penguins, NZ dotterel and the spotted shag. I spotted four little blue penguins swimming in a circle - they have permanent disabilities from injuries which mean they can’t return to the wild.

Our next stop is The Islands (Moutere Rahui), representing the many tiny islands that make up NZ. Zoo director and tour guide Jonathan Wilcken says that a lot of our native bird species have been saved from extinction only because of the remote nature of these islands. Some of the species that will be found here are Campbell Island teal, Antipodes Island parakeet and the Cook Strait tuatara. The Campbell Island teal is an amazing story of conservation success. The teal was driven to near-extinction on its native home of Campbell Island by ship rats, and was presumed extinct until 1975, when a small population was found on Dent Island. DoC captured a few pairs to start a breeding programme and the teal were released back to Campbell Island in 2004

The Wetlands (Nga Repo) is a tranquil space which when finished, will have cascading waterfall and long-finned eel tank. Many native plant species such as flax, manuka, kahikatea and the cabbage tree can be found here. The Wetlands will be home to birds and other species like the paradise shelduck, NZ kingfisher, white-faced heron, banded rail and grey teal.

Visitors to the Night Sky (Te Po) area of the zoo will have to adjust their eyes to the dark before they can spy species such as the famous brown kiwi, short-tailed bat and Archey’s frog. The dim light will also slowly reveal the natural wonders of the nocturnal world in NZ. The Forest (Te Wao Nui a Tane) takes people up a wooded path to a viewing platform nestled amongst the treetops. Once the birds have been released into their new habitat, visitors will be able to feed them during special feeding times.

The South Island’s rich gold, grey and green colour palette is represented by the final habitat, The High Country (Whenua Waotu). Visitors will come face-to-face with the kea, the Otago skink and other South Island species. The fast-rushing stream located in the habitat will also be used as a training ground for young or rehabilitated whio (blue duck) to get them used to the rough currents before they are returned to the wild.

“I think it won’t just be locals who are interested in Te Wao Nui, but also tourists to the country, who can get a little taste of what is on offer throughout New Zealand here," says Jonathan.
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zooboy28 said:
Most interesting detail is that Archey's Frogs will also be displayed in the nocturnal house, I think this is the first time this species (and the short-tailed bats?) has ever been displayed properly (ie. in a nocturnal house).
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it will be interesting to see how well the frogs actually display, but certainly a nocturnal house is the way to do it (not much point any other way really). Short-tailed bats have been kept at Wellington Zoo and Mt. Bruce in the past but off the top of my head I can't recall whether they were actually on display or not. They would definitely be the highlight of Te Wao Nui for me.
 
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