Wild Stories (and they’re all true!)
Let us tell you a story…
Stories from Wild Dunedin and Beyond share the people, places, and passions that make Ōtepoti and the surrounding region, the wildlife capital of Aotearoa. From festival highlights to meeting our contributors, to inspiring conservation mahi across the motu, our stories shine a light on our connection to nature and the incredible efforts being made to protect it for future generations.
Nature Podcast with Karthic
Refreshing nature sounds and stories from the wilderness in ten episodes and produced in Dunedin. Karthic is a wildlife filmmaker telling simple fun stories about nature and the wild places of Aotearoa. He is from Tamil Nadu, India and is currently based in Dunedin.
Whakahekerau – Second Beach
Jon Moore and Steve King are part of Whakahekerau – Second Beach Ecology Action.
Wild Hero 2022: Celebrating Brendan Flack and the EOTMC
In 2022, Wild Dunedin did something a little different. Rather than honouring a single individual, the Wild Hero Award celebrated a collective effort, acknowledging Brendan Flack and the East Otago Taiāpure Management Committee.
Land Art - created from nature’s materials
For the 2022 Festival environmental artists Martin Hill and Philippa Jones guided the community in the construction of a Wild Dunedin ephemeral work at St Kilda beach, that the tide returned to nature.
Otago Peninsula Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial 1914-1918
Otago Peninsula Fallen Soldiers' Memorial - you will be rewarded by phenomenal views after a steep 10 minute walk.
Orokonui Estuary Walk
Orokonui Estuary - a peaceful place just 20 minutes drive from the city.
Wild Hero 2021: Celebrating Professor Phil Bishop
We are part of a long list of people, academics, students and conservationists, who considered Phil a true Wild Hero.
Wild Hero 2020: Celebrating Lala Frazer
Every thriving landscape has people working quietly behind the scenes to protect it. On Otago Peninsula, Lala Frazer has been one of those people for more than four decades.
Monarch Wildlife Cruise on Otago Harbour
Extinct volcanoes, a lighthouse, seal pups, a sea lion, albatross, spoonbills, the suction dredge, the science of flight, krill in the water – all this on an hour long cruise on the Monarch.
Larnach Castle's Native Plants
Native plant expert and compulsive weeder Fiona Eadie is Head Gardener at Larnach Castle.
Encouraging Native Birds to Your Garden with Rod Morris
Since the Otago Peninsula Biodiversity Group (OPBG) started in 2008, 21,000 possums have been removed from the Otago Peninsula. This has led to increased food available for birds, insects and reptiles. Possums eat birds and eggs as well as fruit and vegetation.
Make a Backyard Herbal Tea
Wildcrafting to our Wild Dispensary team has always been about more than just the wild herbs themselves but also about the chance to rewild, slow down, be present and connect with nature and its grounding effects.
Sniper Protecting World’s Rarest Penguins
Now every penguin counts… and Sniper is on an adventure to protect the critically endangered birds.
Backyard Bird Photography
Dunedin photographer and writer Paul Sorrell writes there are many advantages to photographing wildlife at home.
Rewilding Mahu Whenua Between Arrowtown and Lake Wānaka
Associate Profesor Janice Lord of the University of Otago Botany Dept is a passionate advocate for our native plants. Now as part of Ngā Kākano Whakahau: The Seeds Project, she’s leading a team developing ways to plant native seeds in vast areas of unproductive high country land.
Wild Hero 2019: Sir Alan Mark
Wild Dunedin presented our first Wild Hero Award to Sir Alan Mark in 2019 at Otago Museum. Born in Dunedin and living most of his life here, Sir Alan is a true local hero who has great mana throughout Aotearoa.
Identifying Dunedin's Small Wildlife
Wild Dunedin is lucky to have Samuel Purdie as our bug identifier.
Benefits of Being in Nature
Wild Dunedin encourages people to enjoy nature by walking in the forest, on a beach, in the mountains, in Orokonui Ecosanctuary or just around the Town Belt.
Fur Seal or Sea Lion – How to Tell the Difference
Can you tell the difference between a New Zealand sea lion/rāpoka/whakahao and a New Zealand fur deal/kekeno? Amelia Saxby from the Dunedin based NZ Sea Lion Trust says that the best way to tell the difference is from the face.
George St Orchard – Rory Harding’s Food Forest
Rory Harding’s spectacular George St Orchard in the heart of Dunedin demonstrates how much food you can grow in 300 square metres.