Ngā Manu Winter Speaker Series A thought-provoking lineup of talks from some of Aotearoa’s leading voices in conservation, science, art, and te taiao.
The Details
This winter, escape the chill and warm up at the Ngā Manu Winter Speaker Series - where leading voices in conservation, science, and storytelling come together to share insights and inspire action.
From Zealandia’s future vision to NZ’s rare orchids, drawing the natural world to restoring mauri in local ecosystems—you won’t want to miss these inspiring sessions.
Entry by koha (donation)
Proudly supported by the Royal Society Te Apārangi.
21 May - Dr Danielle Shanahan, CEO of Zealandia
Zealandia: The Sanctuary that Changed a Nation:
Currently serving as CEO at Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne and Adjunct Professor at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, Dr Shanahan has significantly advanced biodiversity outcomes and quantified the social, physical, and mental wellbeing benefits of nature.
4 June - Associate Professor Michael Knapp, University of Otago
Conservation Genomics and the Future of Biodiversity:
Associate Professor Michael Knapp (University of Otago) is a research leader in the “Costal People: Southern Skies” Centre of Research Excellence and co-Deputy Director of Genetics Otago. He is a conservation biologist interested in human impact on biodiversity in the past, present and future.
18 June - Dr Carlos Lehnebach
Botany Curator at Te Papa:
Describing New Zealand Orchids and the Research Supporting Their Conservation. Dr Carlos Lehnebach is a Botany Curator at Te Papa and a leading expert on New Zealand’s native orchids. His research focuses on the taxonomy, pollination biology, and conservation of these unique plants. Carlos has described several new orchid species and works to protect their fragile habitats. In his talk, he will explore the diversity of New Zealand orchids and the scientific efforts supporting their conservation.
2 July - Dr Heidi Meudt, Te Papa Botanist
Why New Zealand’s Forget-Me-Nots Are So Special:
Dr Heidi Meudt is a Botany Curator at Te Papa, specialising in the evolution and classification of native New Zealand plants. Originally from the U.S., Heidi came to New Zealand in 2004 for postdoctoral research at Massey University, joining Te Papa in 2006. Her research focuses on threatened alpine species like native forget-me-nots.
16 July - Giselle Clarkson, Illustrator of NZ Geographic & Critter of the Week
Drawing the Natural World:
Giselle Clarkson is an award-winning illustrator, author, comic creator and Arts Foundation Laureate. You can find her work in the NZ School Journal, NZ Geographic magazine, on t-shirts and tea towels for RNZ, arts festival posters and Seaweek resources, to name a few. She has been illustrating picture books since 2018, including The Gobbledegook Book: A Joy Cowley Anthology and Egg & Spoon: An Illustrated Cookbook (both Gecko Press). Her most recent publication is The Observologist: A Handbook for Mounting Very Small Scientific Expeditions (Gecko Press, 2023).
23 July - Paul Ward & Jeff Hall, Capital Kiwi Project
Bringing Kiwi Home:
Community, Conservation, and the Return of Aotearoa’s Icon to Wellington’s BackyardBio: Paul Ward is a co-founder of the Capital Kiwi Project and a two-time Wellingtonian of the Year – Environment. Inspired by the return of native wildlife to Wellington, he helped launch a community-led effort to restore kiwi to the region. Jeff Hall joined the project in 2021 after years as a DOC ranger working with species like kākāpō and takahē. He now lives near one of the release sites and is helping bring kiwi back to Wellington’s backyard.