From protecting native manu to restoring ecosystems, Zealandia’s mission is bold and inspiring. The challenge was clear: how could we extend the experience beyond the fence, bringing the wonder of the sanctuary to people wherever they are in the world and inspiring them to take action for nature?

We wanted to capture the same feeling you get when you walk through the gates — slowing down, listening, looking closer. Our design process explored how to reward curiosity online: creating a space where pausing and scrolling revealed new layers of content.

Storytelling is central to Zealandia’s kaupapa, so we designed flexible components that let their team weave together imagery, words, and multimedia to tell powerful stories about conservation and environmentalism in Wellington and beyond. Their extraordinary photography library — including contributions from their community of volunteer photographers — takes centre stage. Wide-screen images, fading gradients, and atmospheric theming immerse visitors in the ngahere, connecting the forest to the waterways and the sea.

Zealandia’s new website is a reflection of the sanctuary: a place where slowing down reveals beauty, where stories connect us to nature, and where people are inspired and equipped to take action to protect what matters most. It honours the whenua and the mahi of conservation, while also serving practical needs, such as clear calls to donate, volunteer log-ins, and coherent event listings.

By giving Zealandia a stable, expandable platform, we’ve created something that can evolve with them over the long term — supporting their people, their stories, and their vision for protecting Aotearoa’s biodiversity.