‘New Zealand Bird Calls’, launched at the newly opened Te Wao Nui precinct at Auckland Zoo.

Last night, New Holland Publishers launched their new book and CD package, ‘New Zealand Bird Calls’, at the newly opened Te Wao Nui precinct at Auckland Zoo.

The event started in the open-sided Conservation Centre, at the base of ‘The Forest’ (Te Wao Nui a Tane) – one of the six distinct ecological habitats in the Te Wao Nui habitat.  Guests and media were then led through on a twilight tour by the Zoo’s Guides of the remaining habitats: The Coast (Takutai), The Islands (Moutere Rahui), The Wetlands (Nga Repo), The Night (Te Po) and The High Country (Whenua Waotu), experiencing the stunning native bird calls they would be able to identify themselves using the CD and notes from the book.

Guests then spent the rest of the evening at the Zoo’s beautiful function room, The Old Elephant House, enjoying Peregrine Wines’ stunning Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. A perfect tie-in to the conservation focused event, Peregrine Wines fund and partake in numerous avian conservation projects such as the relocation of Saddlebacks from Breaksea Island down to Chalky Island. The author team of Lynnette Moon (also representing the late Geoff Moon), Karen Baird and John Kendrick were there to talk about the book, with sound recordist John sharing some ornithological gems and stories of trips with his long-time friend, Geoff Moon.

 The launch of ‘New Zealand Bird Calls’ also coincided with DOC’s ‘Conservation Week’ and the partnership represented New Holland’s commitment to publishing strong local natural history titles and the Zoo’s pledge to conserving New Zealand native species and restoring the dawn chorus to our forests and coastlines.

Although Auckland Zoo has been working to conserve our native species behind the scenes, Te Wao Nui marks the moment where their work is open to the public. The Zoo are working to return native species to the wild, and are providing the expertise of their staff and resources to help their conservation partners such as the Department of Conservation and Ngati Whatua o Orakei monitor and manage wild populations. Te Wao Nui will be home to over 100 New Zealand native plant species and around 60 different animal species (over 350 individual animals) – many which are new or have never before been displayed at the Zoo. The name Te Wao Nui can be interpreted as natural, unique habitats and environments in Aotearoa – New Zealand.

New Zealand Bird Calls (book and CD) by Lynnette Moon, Geoff Moon), Karen Baird and John Kendrick, published by New Holland, RRP $29.99, is available now.


Pictures below taken at launch show John Kendrick (co-author and formerly bird sound recordist for Radio NZ) with friend.