A special book, ‘Auckland Zoo – 100 Years, 100 Stories’ and an onsite centenary exhibition (free to all visitors) are among ways Auckland Zoo is celebrating its 100th birthday with the community.
Since opening on 16 December 1922, generations of New Zealanders, and significantly the people of Tāmaki Makaurau, have been at the heart of the Zoo’s journey to becoming the wildlife conservation organisation it is today, as the book and exhibition reflect.
“From our early life as a mainly treeless menagerie, the Zoo has metamorphosed both physically and philosophically. Our evolution is thanks to many former visionary leaders, the passion, skills, and dedication of so many past and present staff, and our amazing community, sponsors, supporters, and conservation partners,” says Auckland Zoo’s director, Kevin Buley.
“It is also primarily because of the incredible ongoing support and trust of Auckland Council and Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, that we’re here as Auckland’s zoo, realising our mission ‘to bring people together to build a future for wildlife’. And given the enormous and daunting challenges that our planet faces – with climate change, escalating biodiversity loss, and our own species’ increasing urbanisation and disconnection from nature – our role as a modern zoo at the heart of our community has never been more important,” explains Kevin.
‘Auckland Zoo - 100 Years, 100 Stories’ (by Sarah Ell, Aja Pendergrast and Jane Healy) – available from the Zoo’s shop, online, and in all good book stores (including Ponsonby’s The Women’s Book Shop) – is a rich and colourful unconventional history.
Through its 100 stories and stunning photographs, it brings to life the Zoo’s journey from its early days as a ‘living museum’ to its role as a modern zoo active in conserving wildlife in Aotearoa and around the world and connecting its community with nature to enhance wellbeing and to grow a love and care for the natural world.
A wildly diverse read, stories range from the Zoo’s fraught origins in Onehunga (with complaints of roaring lions!) to its established and award-winning green oasis in Western Springs, and personal accounts of former staff and their families who lived on site at the Zoo. There are tales of unexpected animal adventures (Hippo Faith, Otter Jin, and Elephant Burma), stories of day-to-day zoo life (how do you anaesthetise a flamingo?) and insights into the fascinating and ground-breaking conservation work, locally and overseas, by the Zoo and its partners.
Bringing the Zoo’s 100-year journey to life on site is a centenary exhibition – ‘100 Years – A Century of wild life at Auckland Zoo’ – free to all visitors in the Zoo’s exhibition space, ‘The Domes’ until 17 July.
Proudly supported by the Zoo’s new principal partner, Barfoot & Thompson, this dynamic and interactive exhibition offers a rich and fascinating journey into the Zoo’s past, present and future.
People of all ages are invited to share their own favourite Zoo memories – through drawings, photos, and words, take part in physical activities like mindful animal movement, watch video content, share their own conservation/sustainability goals and more! For tamariki, there’s also an activity sheet and opportunity to collect stamps around the exhibition to be in to win an ice cream, courtesy of supporting partner Tip Top.
Zoo Lates over summer
A ‘Zoo Lates’ summer evening series (4 pm – 8 pm every Thursday through to 2 March) is a further opportunity to take in the exhibition as well as explore the Zoo and take in the Lates animal keeper talks on offer and bring a picnic or dine out in one of the Zoo’s cafes. Visit www.aucklandzoo.co.nz
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