July 7: Di Tracey

After meeting with Di Tracey earlier in the week, she wanted to meet up again to talk more before I left. She and her husband were so welcoming and I enjoyed my time with them! They told me about their local concerns with the environment and the world in general. It was refreshing to hear someone else’s opinions and especially from people on the other side of the world.  

Pictures from the streets in Wellington!

They told me about their travels, jobs, living in New Zealand, and more. We then started talking about Zealandia, the conservation and wildlife sanctuary I visited a day before. The park’s main goal is to reintroduce native species back into New Zealand after disappearing from the country. Di’s husband spoke highly of this park and their success, then explaining how the birds are now seen outside the park too. By reintroducing them in this well-kept area they are able to reproduce and eventually expand outside the refugee. He told me how they witness special birds outside the park in trees and how their populations are increasing dramatically.

This is very important because you can see the effect that one conservation park has on the wildlife. Not only are they reintroducing the biodiversity, they are making it sustainable once again.

After meeting with them, we said our goodbyes and hopefully I will see them again in the future if I ever decide to travel to New Zealand again or if they travel to Pittsburgh!