City Nature Challenge

Join us for this global bioblitz and help showcase the ‘Wildlife Capital of New Zealand’ to the world.

  • Take photos: 24–27 April 2026
    Upload your photos: 28 April-10 May 2026
    Results announced: 13 May 2026

  • Wild Dunedin have joined the City Nature Challenge 2026. This is an international effort, using the iNaturalist app, to discover and document as many different species as possible across the globe.

    It’s a bioblitz-style competition where cities are in a friendly contest to see who can make the most observations of nature, find the most species, and engage the most people. Over 650 cities around the world participate including Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Taranaki.

    We have several iNaturalist workshops listed in this programme and our website.

  • Please get in touch if you would like to host a bioblitz or you have any CNC questions:

    Lesley Smith: coordinator@wilddunedin.nz

    Tabitha Heaton: heata884@student.otago.ac.nz

    Jacqueline Theis: jacqueline.theis@postgrad.otago.ac.nz

    Connal McLean: connal.mclean@otago.ac.nz

  • We can only protect wildlife if we know it is there. By recording wildlife, not only do you learn more about your local nature, but your records can also help conservation efforts and inform plans for tackling the ecological emergency across New Zealand. It’s fun to get out there, spend more time in nature, and see what wildlife you can find. Your record could turn out to be a rare species, or something totally new to the area. Plus, we have prizes!

  • Covering 3,350km2, the Dunedin district boasts significant geographic diversity, incorporating urban development, coastal and hilly terrain and close proximity to mountain ranges. Key landscape features include an extinct volcano, a harbour, coastal beaches and adjacent valleys. No wonder it’s the wildlife capital of New Zealand, and you can help us to prove it.

How to Participate

Join a bioblitz listed below, host one or just step outside in to your own garden.

Get out there

Take a picture of make a sound recording

Upload to iNaturalist

How to Host a Bioblitz

Checklist

  • Decide what area you want to survey.

  • Apply for permits if needed.

  • Plan timings and invite participants.

  • Ask Wild Dunedin to help publicise it.

  • Prepare fliers with species of interest.

  • Tell participants to download iNaturalist.

Post-event Activities

  • Share your stories on social media and with friends & family.

  • See what species have been identified in your project.

Host an Event

  • Introduction, safety, how to use iNaturalist

  • Waiver for photo release

  • Make observations

  • Regroup and swap stories

Clean Up Observations

  • Junk observations such as pets and siblings.

  • Fix mistakes such as multiple - species observations.

Upcoming Bioblitz

Campus Bioblitz

9am-4pm, 24 April
University of Otago, Union Lawn, just off Union Place
Join Tabitha Heaton, Jacqui Theis & Connal McLean for a forage through the campus collecting wild observations. Booking not required.

Other Bioblitzes

10am-noon, 24 April
Dunedin Botanic Garden, Information Centre
Join Kacey Hutchison for a lichen focussed bioblitz or Tom Myers who'll be seeking out wild plants and invertebrates. Booking not required.

2-3pm, 24 April
Dunedin Botanic Garden, Upper Car Park
Join Kacey Hutchison for a lichen focussed bioblitz or Tom Myers who'll be seeking out wild plants and invertebrates. Booking not required.

3-5pm, 24 April
New Zealand Marine Studies Centre
Meet at NZMSC foyer - the Bioblitz will be on the north or south shore of the Portobello Marine Laboratory depending on the weather on the day)
Contact: Hannah Drury, NZMSC: hannah.drury@otago.ac.nz
What to bring: A device to take photos on & sturdy footwear (we will provide ID guides and help with the iNaturalist app)

2-4pm, 26 April
Wild Dalmore Reserve biobltz
Max 20, to enrol, DM via the facebook Wild Dalmore Reserve.