Central Energy Trust Wildbase Recovery

24/02/2026

Patient update 🌿

We have some wonderful news to share. Kāruhiruhi/pied s**g Waikanae has been released.
When this manu first arrived, they were emaciated and weak. With plenty of supportive care, physiotherapy and time to rebuild strength, it made an incredible turnaround and has now returned home.

Meanwhile, kererū Waikanae and ruru Palmerston North are still recovering with us and making steady progress.

Interested in helping native wildlife? Donate today ☺️
https://wildbaserecovery.co.nz/help-us/donate

24/02/2026

Wednesday (tomorrow) afternoon is your chance to catch a glimpse of this beautiful manu!

2pm to 4pm
The centre will be open from 1pm as usual

For those of you following our seabird patients, we are planning to take the Northern Royal Albatross down to the Central Energy Trust Wildbase Recovery facility on Wednesday afternoon from 2pm to get some outside conditioning before she is released. If you are in Palmy this is your chance to see a truly magnificent ocean traveler. We have some back up Salvin's albatross if her royal highness doesn't like the pool

20/02/2026

Fun Fact Friday!

All birds are descended from ancestors that could fly. Over time, some species adapted to life on the ground – and here in Aotearoa, 16 extant/living native bird species are flightless. With no land mammals for millions of years, wings weren’t always needed to survive.

📷 Photos of past patients

Interested in helping native wildlife? Volunteer today!
https://wildbaserecovery.co.nz/help-us/volunteer/

17/02/2026

Patient Update! 💚

We currently have four on-display patients recovering with us.

Kererū Waikanae came to us after flying into a window, suffering multiple jaw fractures, a wing fracture and feather loss. This manu is now recuperating in our circular flight aviary, focusing on feather regrowth and rebuilding flight fitness.

Orphaned ruru/morepork Palmerston North, continues to recover in our ground dweller aviary. It has been eating well, which is helping to build strength and improve overall fitness.

Tarapuka/black-billed gull Kāpiti, remains in our pool aviary and has been practising its foraging skills. This manu has also developed quite an impressive stick collection along the way.

Our newest patient, kāruhiruhi/pied s**g Waikanae, was found emaciated, lethargic and unable to fly. After receiving supportive care and physiotherapy, this manu is now in the pool aviary working on regaining condition and strength.

Interested in helping native wildlife? Volunteer today!
https://wildbaserecovery.co.nz/help-us/volunteer/

13/02/2026

Fun Fact Friday | 7 years!

Today marks 7 years since we opened our doors 🥳

In that time, we’ve welcomed nearly 13,000 tamariki through our education programmes, been supported by hundreds of dedicated volunteers, seen hundreds of patients be rehabilitated and released, and shared the centre with around 500,000 visitors. All coming together to learn, care, and take action for our taonga wildlife.

Thank you for being part of the journey 💚

https://wildbaserecovery.co.nz/

10/02/2026

International Day of Women and Girls in Science!

We’re celebrating the women and girls shaping the future of science around the globe – especially the vets, researchers, technicians, support officers, educators, students and conservationists who support our work every day. From wildlife health and rehabilitation to education and advocacy, their knowledge, care and curiosity help protect Aotearoa’s taonga species.

To all the wāhine in science: thank you for what you do, and for inspiring the next generation 💚

10/02/2026

Patient update!

Ruru Levin has been released! After two and a half weeks of recovery, this juvenile manu met its release criteria and is now back in the wild. It was awesome to release the ruru with Jonny from Hughes Contracting who originally found the young ruru in December.

A new arrival to the ground dweller aviary is ruru Palmerston North, an orphan who fell from its nest and sustained a left tibio-tarsal (leg) fracture. This manu is working on building both strength and stamina as well as learning foraging and flying skills.

Meanwhile, tarapuka Kapiti continues to make progress in the pool aviary. There is still some feather regrowth and waterproofing to work on, but this manu is improving a little more each day.

Interested in helping native wildlife? Volunteer today!
https://wildbaserecovery.co.nz/help-us/volunteer/

06/02/2026

Fun Fact Friday!

Did you know thousands of students have taken part in our education programmes? By seeing native wildlife up close and hearing real recovery stories, tamariki learn how illness, injury and predators affect our manu – and what actions they can take to help protect taonga species.

Interested in helping native wildlife? Volunteer today!
https://wildbaserecovery.co.nz/help-us/volunteer/

05/02/2026

OPEN 10AM TO 4PM for Waitangi Day!

03/02/2026

Patient update!

Ruru Levin is continuing to recover in our circular flight aviary. This manu is still growing its tail feathers back, but it’s eating well and has even been spotted tracking insects on our night cameras.

The team at Wildbase hospital are keeping a close eye on tarapuka Kapiti’s eating, waterproofing, and feather regrowth. This little gull has also been seen collecting sticks, which could be nesting behaviour, courtship practice, or just curious juvenile learning. Either way, enjoy this very sleepy manu and its impressive stick collection.

Interested in helping native wildlife? Volunteer today!
https://wildbaserecovery.co.nz/help-us/volunteer

30/01/2026

We’re back to the following hours:
1pm to 4pm Monday to Friday
10am to 4pm on weekends and public holidays!

🌿What do we do weekday mornings? We run our education programme!

📌Read more about Education Bookings here: https://wildbaserecovery.co.nz/learn-and-teach/our-onsite-education-programme

30/01/2026

Fun Fact Friday!

Who came first takahē or pūkeko?

🟢 Takahē are ancient Aotearoa locals. Their ancestors arrived here millions of years ago and, over time, adapted to our unique environment – becoming larger, flightless, and well suited to alpine life.

🔵 Pūkeko, on the other hand, are the newer cousin. They likely arrived from Australia within the last 1,000 years, flying across the Tasman and quickly spreading across wetlands and grasslands.

Both are part of the rail family, but one evolved with our whenua, and the other is a more recent arrival. Same whānau, very different whakapapa!

Interested in helping native wildlife? Volunteer today!
https://wildbaserecovery.co.nz/help-us/volunteer/