Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre

There’s something undeniably special about seeing a native kārearea in flight from just metres away. At Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre, these encounters are the result of more than 30 years of protecting them.

The centre began in 1992 as a grassroots project rehabilitating kāhu (harriers). Today, it’s New Zealand’s oldest bird of prey centre, spanning rehabilitation, research and education, as well as breeding birds for release back into the wild. Over 1,000 birds have come through the centre over the years, and they’ve bred over 100 threatened kārearea (our own endemic falcons, found nowhere else in the world), helping gradually support and grow the wild population.

Visitors can see some of that amazing work in action during Flight of the Falcon, their popular flight show. You can get a real up-close look as they fly right overhead, while they demonstrate ancient falconry techniques that are still used to train and rehabilitate raptors (carnivorous birds of prey) today. For an even closer look, try one of their small-group Meet & Greets, which take you right into the aviary to hear from the conservation team, who have more than a century of combined experience between them!

Despite the serious conservation mahi happening behind the scenes, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. They want visitors to feel part of what they do rather than just spectating. Young or young at heart, visitors are bound to leave with a better understanding of these remarkable birds and, hopefully, feeling more empowered to help protect the natural world around them.