5 Ways to Always Be Naturing in the Wildlife Capital
Conservation Week is your reminder that in Ōtepoti/Dunedin, nature is always right here - on your street, in your backyard, and along our coastline. As the Wildlife Capital of New Zealand, we don’t have to go far to find it.
DOC calls it “Always Be Naturing” - and it’s really just about noticing, enjoying, and doing small things that help wildlife thrive. We often focus on talking about trapping and predator removal - but this week we wanted to focus on five simple things everyone can do for Conservation Week to celebrate why we’re working hard for a predator free Ōtepoti/Dunedin!
Take a lunch break with the toroa
If your day is busy, this one’s easy - tune into the Royal Albatross Cam and spend a few minutes with one of Ōtepoti/Dunedin’s most iconic species. Watching these birds up close is a reminder of how special this place is!
Turn your walk into a birdcount
Out for a stroll? Count what you see. The Town Belt Birdcount is an easy way to slow down, look up, and contribute to real data on how our birds are doing. Every observation helps build knowledge about urban biodiversity - the same knowledge that supports efforts like predator control and habitat restoration across Ōtepoti/Dunedin.
Make your backyard part of the habitat
Backyards might seem small, but together they form a network of spaces that manu/birds, skinks and lizards, and native invertebrates rely on. Planting for food and shelter, reducing risks, and creating a welcoming environment can make a real difference.
Alongside trapping, it’s one of the most practical ways to support the Predator Free Dunedin vision - a city where our taoka wildlife can move safely through urban spaces.
Chip your cat
Microchipping your cat is a simple step that helps keep pets safe and supports responsible ownership. It also plays into the bigger picture of how we care for both domestic animals and native species in shared spaces.
Predator Free Dunedin is teaming up with Otago Polytechnic’s School of Veterinary Nursing to offer monthly subsidised microchipping sessions. Ōtepoti/Dunedin is a city that loves its cats and its wildlife – these clinics are about supporting people to be good neighbours, good guardians, and good kaitiaki at the same time.
Our next clinic will be in late May 2026. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for details!
SPCA Otago Southland also provides support through their Chip’n’Snip programme.
Join a bioblitz
Want to see just how wild Dunedin really is? Join the City Nature Challenge, log what you find, or jump into a local bioblitz.
Coordinated by Wild Dunedin, The Hoaki ki te Taiao City Nature Challenge is all about discovering and recording the life around us - from birds and bugs to plants and fungi. It’s a fun, social way to “Always Be Naturing” and see Ōtepoti/Dunedin through a different lens.
Running from 24 - 27 April you can join one of several organised bioblitzes around the city - or jump onto iNaturalist and bioblitz from your own backyard! Everything you need to know is at the link below.
However you get involved in Conservation Week this year, you’re part of what makes Ōtepoti/Dunedin a pretty special place for wildlife!