About Us

Aotearoa BiodiverCity is an interdisciplinary group of researchers working to increase native species in the built environment. As part of People, Cities and Nature, an MBIE Endeavour Programme focused on restoring Indigenous nature in urban environments, we explore the untapped potential of medium-density urban development to better support city-wide biodiversity. Through interdisciplinary and design-informed research, we develop clear, evidence-based strategies, goals, processes, and tools to embed biodiversity in Aotearoa New Zealand’s cities, enhancing urban living for both humans and other species.

Yolanda van Heezik

A Professor in the Zoology Department, University of Otago, where she has taught into and directed the Post-Graduate Wildlife Management programme, and teaches conservation biology.  Her research interests include urban ecology, biodiversity of private gardens and urban green spaces, and people’s interactions with nature. She is also involved in research on mammalian invasive species, and marine bird ecology with a focus on penguins.

Claire Freeman

Programme Director for the Master of Urban and Regional Planning at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. She is a planner with expertise in the field of environmental planning. She has worked in Planning, Geography, and Environmental Management programmes internationally and in New Zealand and has over 35 years’ experience in planning education. Her three primary research interests are: 1) planning and development of the natural environment, biodiversity, conservation and greenspace planning 2) planning and designing environments that better support the needs of children and young people and 3) planning for communities and sustainability. Her research also incorporates several projects undertaken with Pacific colleagues in New Zealand, Fiji and Samoa exploring children and their families’ understanding of and responses to life in a changing urbanising Pacific. Together with Yolanda van Heezik she co-authored (2018) Children, nature and cities: Rethinking the connections, Routledge. In 2024 she coauthored with Etienne Nel, Planning for the caring city, Routledge, which argues cities need to care equally for all their inhabitants human and non-human if they are to be successful positive living environments.

Maibritt Pedersen Zari

Professor of Regenerative Architecture at the School of Future Environments at Auckland University of Technology. Her research sits at the interface between ecology and designed human experiences across spatial scales, from buildings to the wider urban context. Pedersen Zari investigates how human wellbeing is intertwined with the health of the living world we inhabit, particularly in relation to climate change adaptation. Her work explores how insights from ecological systems can inform tangible ecology-based metrics for regenerative performance in architecture and the urban built environment. Her areas of expertise include nature-based solutions, climate resilience and adaptation in cities with particular experience in Pacific contexts, regenerative design, urban ecosystem services, design for urban biodiversity, biomimicry, and biophilic design. She is author of three books with Routledge and Springer Nature and has received two university research awards.

Danielle Shanahan

Chief Executive at Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne, and Adjunct Professor at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington. Danielle has a wide and varied background in conservation practice and researchDanielle led Zealandia’s restoration efforts inside and outside the fence for over five years, and established a unique urban catchment restoration project Sanctuary to Sea Kia Mouriora te Kaiwharawhara. Danielle’s research interests focus on what nature means for people’s health and wellbeing, how a connection to nature develops, and how people come together to achieve conservation outcomes.Her motivation is creating a healthy future for people and nature.

Jacqueline Theis

Doctoral ecology candidate at the University of Otago. With a background spanning ecology and mental health care, she brings a unique interdisciplinary lens to understanding how biodiversity, human wellbeing, and urban design intersect. Her research translates ecological data into practical tools for urban professionals, helping shape cities that function as thriving habitats for native wildlife while supporting healthier urban living. Jacqueline is actively engaged in science community outreach and leads research on urban insect colonisation, generating insights that inform more effective urban planning and conservation strategies.

Maggie Mackinnon

PhD graduate of Victoria University of Wellington’s Faculty of Architecture and Design. With her interdisciplinary background in biology (BSc) and architecture (MArch), Maggie’s research connects both fields and investigates how architecture can provide habitat for native species in cities to increase urban biodiversity, climate change mitigation, and human well-being. She is particularly interested in how building-integrated vegetation, such as green roofs and green walls, can provide habitat for native species, improve building performance, and form more robust and resilient green infrastructure networks.

Chris Woolley

Chris completed a post-doc programme of study with People Cities and Nature, partly with Aotearoa BiodiverCity, while working at Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne. He is interested in reptile conservation and the relationship between people and wildlife living in cities. His research investigates where different lizard species live in New Zealand cities and what can be done to promote populations. He is also investigating the potential for ‘backyard’ lizard monitoring, both to aid the conservation of urban-dwelling lizards and as a way to engage urbanites in conservation.

Postgraduate students

Several Masters students received People Cities and Nature scholarships and have contributed to Aotearoa BiodiverCity.

Supervisor: Maibritt Pedersen Zari.
Finalist in the 2024 NZIA Student Design Awards

Supervisors: Claire Freeman and Yolanda van Heezik.

Contributors

Research assistance
We also would like to acknowledge the research assistance of Dr Kamiya Varshney, and Abigail Tempe Spence.

Graphic design
Allette Ockhuysen designed our logos and icons.

Web design & development
Jaz Wilkinson of Product Sense designed and built the website and the NZ Biodiversity Factor tools.