Wellington student Ai Innes-Mills is asking people to put their affection for native birds on paper, with a shared artwork taking shape at Zealandia this Saturday.
Her Manu Mail project invites visitors to write a note, share a wildlife memory and decorate a paper bird. Their contributions will be gathered into a flock, displayed together for the day.
Innes-Mills is a third-year design student at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. The public artwork is her final capstone project for the degree.
Although birds give the project its shape, its starting point is people’s memories and stories of Aotearoa’s native plants and animals. The aim is to bring those individual connections with the natural world into one collective work.
Kākā returned to Wellington through Zealandia’s reintroduction programme, which began in 2002. They are now a familiar sight beyond the sanctuary fence, bringing wild parrots into the city’s gardens and daily routines.
The relationship between Wellingtonians and kākā has also been studied by researchers at Victoria University. Cathy Breed, Brendon Blue and Amanda Thomas explored how the birds, people and city trees have shaped life in Wellington, drawing on interviews with 17 people alongside field observations.
In a January 2025 article for Zealandia, Wellington Zoo veterinarian Kirsten Anderson described the “unifying enthusiasm” native wildlife brings out in Wellingtonians. She credited iwi, community groups, predator-free projects, Wellington City Council and the zoo with helping secure the kākā’s return.
Manu Mail gives residents a way to record those personal connections, using words and paper birds as part of a public artwork.
The free activity runs from 10am to 2pm on Saturday 24 October in Zealandia’s Visitor Centre foyer. Normal admission charges apply to anyone who also wants to enter the sanctuary. Overflow parking will be available at Birdwood Carpark.
Zealandia is at the end of Waiapu Road in Karori. Its visitor information also lists a free daytime shuttle to and from the city, alongside nearby public bus options.
