Date: Monday 17 November

Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (2 hours)

Join us for a unique journey into the heart of urban ecological restoration.

This special event begins with a talk by Dr. Danielle Shanahan, Chief Executive of Zealandia and a leading researcher on the health benefits of urban nature. Dr. Shanahan will share insights into how immersive, biodiverse environments like Zealandia can support both ecosystem regeneration and human well-being—offering a model for cities around the world.

Following the talk, expert guides will lead a 1.5-hour walking tour through Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne, the world’s first fully-fenced urban ecosanctuary. Set in a lush valley just minutes from downtown Wellington, Zealandia is a bold 500-year experiment to return the land to its pre-human state—home to native birds, reptiles, and plants found nowhere else on Earth.

This tour offers a rare opportunity to witness thriving native wildlife, learn from world-class restoration efforts, and reflect on the powerful intersection of public health, biodiversity, and urban design.

See the Zealandia website (https://www.visitzealandia.com/) for more details.

Register for this event as as add-on to your conference registration here.

Date: Monday, 17 November

Time: 1:00–3:00 pm (2 hours)

Experience one of the world’s most visionary green buildings—rooted in culture, community, and sustainability.

This special tour begins with a pōwhiri, a formal Māori welcoming ceremony, at Ngā Mokopuna, the stunning centrepiece of Victoria University of Wellington’s marae redevelopment complex. Situated on ancestral land and grounded in mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge and values), this Living Building Challenge-certified structure redefines what it means to build in harmony with people and the planet.

Following the pōwhiri and afternoon tea, join architect Ewan Brown for an intimate guided tour of this globally recognized space. Designed to be self-sufficient and regenerative, Ngā Mokopuna integrates natural materials, water harvesting, energy independence, and deep cultural symbolism into every aspect of its architecture.

Named one of the most environmentally responsible buildings in the world, Ngā Mokopuna is not just a place—it’s a living statement about the future of design, equity, and resilience.

Learn more at: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/maori-at-victoria/marae/nga-whare/nga-mokopuna

Register for this event as as add-on to your conference registration here.

Date: Monday, 17 November

Time: 4:00 – 5:30 pm

Uncover the living stories beneath Wellington’s waterfront.

Join us for a powerful 1.5-hour walking tour that begins with a mihi whakatau (Māori welcome) at Wharewaka, one of Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington’s most culturally rich and significant sites. From there, expert guides will take you on a journey through time—sharing the hidden Māori histories, whakapapa (genealogies), and archaeological treasures embedded in the heart of the city’s waterfront.

This tour offers a rare opportunity to gain insight into the ancestral connections of mana whenua (local Māori tribes) to this land and harbour, and how these relationships continue to shape the city today. From ancient pā sites to contemporary cultural spaces, you’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of the whenua (land), te ao Māori (the Māori worldview), and the resilience of indigenous heritage in urban environments.

Register for this event as as add-on to your conference registration here.

Date: Friday, 21 November

Time: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm (2 hours)

Delve into the buried and transformative water stories beneath Wellington’s heartland.

Join Dr Robin Skinner, architectural historian and lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington, as your guide on this two-hour walking journey uncovering the lost rivers of central Wellington—once flowing streams now hidden beneath roads, buildings, and reclaimed shorelines. Robin draws upon pioneering research and vivid historical mapping of Ngā Awa Tini o Te Whanganui‑a‑Tara (“The Many Rivers of Wellington Harbour”), exploring waterways such as Kumutoto, Waimapihi, Waitangi, Tutaenui, and more—each with deep ancestral significance to mana whenua (local Māori communities).

This immersive tour weaves together Wellington’s urban form with its natural origins, using historic maps like the Felton Matthew 1841 layout and other visual tools to reveal how colonisation reshaped the landscape. Hear how remnants of wetlands, lagoons, and waterways once dominated today’s urban grid, and consider the possibilities of ecological restoration in future city-making.

Register for this event as as add-on to your conference registration here.

Date: Friday, 21 November

Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (3 hours)

Experience manaakitanga (hospitality), Māori design futures, and community-led housing innovation.

This half-day visit to Wainuiomata Marae offers a rare opportunity to engage with the vibrant life of a community-based urban marae near Wellington. Nestled in the hills of Lower Hutt, Wainuiomata Marae is a living hub for whānau (families), hapū (sub-tribes), and the wider community—actively shaping a future grounded in Māori values, sovereignty, and self-determination.

The visit will begin with a pōwhiri (formal welcome ceremony), followed by a guided tour of the marae grounds, including the site of a planned papakāinga—a contemporary, culturally rooted housing development envisioned to support intergenerational living and community resilience.

The experience concludes with a shared hāngī lunch, a traditional Māori meal cooked in an earth oven and prepared by local hosts.

Transport: Minibuses will depart from Tākina Convention Centre to and from the marae.

Learn More Here

Register for this event as as add-on to your conference registration here.