Newtown event: Birds, bugs, fishes, flowers and more: an author and Te Papa experts kōrero

Come and listen to a kōrero with the author Michael Szabo, alongside a panel of Te Papa experts, diving deep into the incredible landscapes, walks and wildlife of Te Upoko o te Ika Wellington from Wild Wellington Ngā Taonga Taiao.

Panelists

Michael Szabo (author) is a long-time Wellington resident and writer and well acquainted with the region’s wildlife. He is editor of Birds New Zealand magazine and a contributor to NZ Birds Online. He is principal author of Native Birds of Aotearoa (Te Papa Press, (2022), Wild Encounters – A Forest & Bird guide to discovering NZ’s unique wildlife (2009), and has written for New Scientist, NZ Geographic, and Sunday Star-Times.

Curator Botany Heidi Meudt is a researcher whose collections-based research focuses on the evolution and classification of native New Zealand flowering plants, especially forget-me-nots.

Curator Vertebrates Colin Miskelly is an ornithologist with broad interests. An expert in bird identification, his research drove the creation of the website NZ Birds Online. Colin’s current research interests include Auckland Islands ornithology, Fiordland seabirds, vagrant birds, and New Zealand snipe relationships and conservation status.

Curator Fishes Andrew Stewart has had a fascination and love of fishes since he was very small. His areas of specialisation are the deep-water fishes and Southern Ocean (Antarctic) fishes, but he can cover the full range of species.

Curator Invertebrates Phil Sirvid has a broad general knowledge of New Zealand entomology but specialises in arachnids, particularly spiders and harvestmen.