About Wild Dunedin
Wild Dunedin, New Zealand's Festival of Nature celebrated 10 years in 2025 and has maintained its core mission, to connect people to nature and wildlife.
New Zealand Festival of Nature/Wild Dunedin has very deep roots in Dunedin, the wildlife capital of Aotearoa. We work with local community groups, businesses, conservationists and nature lovers to share the magnificent wildlife and wild places of our city, and we showcase the work of those who are planting native species, eradicating introduced mammalian predators, and helping populations of native animals of all kinds to flourish. Working closely with nature tourism operators in the city, we provide many opportunities for locals and visitors alike to view Dunedin’s very special wildlife up close.
The Festival
Wild Dunedin, New Zealand’s Festival of Nature, in the stunning wildlife capital of Aotearoa, is a celebration of our unique wildlife, wild places, and the inspiring people who protect them. Each year, we work with local community groups, businesses, conservationists and nature lovers to share the magnificent wildlife and wild places of our city, and we showcase the work of those who are planting native species, eradicating introduced mammalian predators, and helping populations of native animals of all kinds to flourish. Working closely with nature tourism operators in the city, we provide many opportunities for locals and visitors alike to view Dunedin’s very special wildlife up close.
We support our contributors with nationwide publicity, expert guidance, an online booking system, and both printed and digital programmes to help create engaging, high-quality events for all ages. Many of our contributors have been with us since our first Festival in 2016, and every year we welcome new groups doing vital work for the environment.
Whether you're a nature lover, a curious explorer, or just looking for something fun to do with the whānau, Wild Dunedin offers something for everyone…
and we can’t wait for you to be part of it.
Our Team
Jeanne Hutchison became the newest Festival Director in 2025 and with the new Event Manager, Carla Munro and Festival Coordinator, Lesley Smith and marketing and tech duo, Charlie Buchan and Max Levitt-Campbell, they are dedicated to keeping the values and mission of Wild Dunedin alive.
The festival could not be as successful without the support of the organising committee who generously offer their time as volunteers. The organising committee includes Rachel MacJeff (Tūhura Otago Museum), Taylor Davies-Colley (Orokonui Ecosanctuary), Dr Steph Godfrey (Otago University), Jayashree Panjabi, and Matt French.
Trustees of the Dunedin Wildlife Trust are the guiding light of the festival. Most have been involved from the conception back in 2015. The Trustees are also part of the organising committee and give their time to help shape and grow the festival. Trustees include Neil Harraway (co-chair), Hoani Langsbury (co-chair and representing Otago Peninsula Trust and Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou), Kerry Buchan (representing Otago University). Rachel Cooper and Norcombe Barker. Taylar McNeilly is the Treasurer and represents our partner PKF Dunedin.
Our Founders
Wild Dunedin began when a group of like-minded nature lovers came together to celebrate the extraordinary wildlife and wild places that make Ōtepoti/Dunedin, the wildlife capital of Aotearoa New Zealand so very special.
Neil Harraway, at the time the co-owner of Monarch Wildlife Cruises and Tours and former filmmaker with Natural History New Zealand (NHNZ), had long been considering a nature-themed festival. Joining forces with Kerry Buchan, then Marketing Manager at Orokonui Ecosanctuary, Norcombe Barker formerly of Larnach Castle, the late Professor Phil Bishop from Otago University, and Hoani Langsbury of Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou and the Otago Peninsula Trust, enlisting former NHNZ production manager Jeannie Hayden as Festival Director – Wild Dunedin was born!
Our story reflects how things work in this city. Amid a vast landscape of high country terrain, native forests, rivers, estuaries, natural harbour, and sweeping beaches, it’s a town where conservationists, tourism operators, researchers, and creatives collaborate naturally, bringing wild ideas to life.
From its beginnings, Wild Dunedin has been driven by this spirit of collaboration, connecting conservation, community, science, and culture to celebrate and protect the breathtaking natural world right on our doorstep.
Ōtepoti Mohoao
From the birthplace of the name ‘Otago’, Ōtākou Rūnaka have endorsed ‘Ōtepoti Mohoao’ to be used alongside ‘Wild Dunedin’. It literally means wild Dunedin, as Ōtepoti is the name for Dunedin in Te Reo Māori.
Ōtepoti Mohoao Wild Dunedin – New Zealand Festival of Nature is a Dunedin Wildlife Trust project, made possible through the support of many. Organisations who support, partner with, and sponsor us, are the reason we can keep bringing this amazing festival to our community and to visitors to Ōtepoti from all over the world. Nga mihi nui, thank you!
Tūhura Otago Museum
Tūhura Otago Museum, one of the oldest in New Zealand, has been with us right from the start. They provide excellent venues including the Perpetual Guardian Planetarium where we show films, expert speakers, fascinating natural history specimens, and a vibrant events and marketing team that are a joy to work with.
Tūhura Otago Museum is a familiar and well-loved Dunedin institution and it’s very easy to encourage locals along to Wild Dunedin events happening there.
Museum Director Dr Ian Griffin has shown his high regard for the Festival with these words:
“Over the past few years, the Festival has become New Zealand’s pre-eminent biodiversity-focused public engagement event. It draws tens of thousands of people to events and showcases the unique fauna and flora found in our region.”
Our Patron Neville Peat
Neville Peat, long-time resident of Otago Peninsula and multiple award-winning author and photographer, is our Patron.
Neville is well known for his books on the natural history of Dunedin, New Zealand and further afield, and he has also written on geography, history and people.
New Zealand Festival of Nature is honoured to have Neville, longstanding nature lover and environmentalist, who was awarded the MNZM in 2018 for his work, as our Patron.
Neville Peat photographed by Caroline Davies.
Festival / Event Volunteers
A happy band of volunteers helps us out at events during the Festivals and with other tasks from time to time. Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and contribute many different skills. They all receive Wild Dunedin t-shirts, assistance with transport, and vouchers for local wildlife attractions. It’s a great opportunity to make a contribution, meet interesting people and support nature.
Volunteer Hadil Catherina face painting as part of the team promoting the upcoming Festival at another city event.