Pekapeka: Inside the Hidden World of New Zealand's Native Bats with Fredrik Hjelm
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What do you really know about New Zealand's only native land mammals?
New Zealand's native bats, or pekapeka, are among our most mysterious and least-seen native species. Small, elusive and uniquely adapted to life in Aotearoa, they play an important role in our forest ecosystems — yet many people know little about the challenges they face.
Join Fredrik Hjelm for a fascinating introduction to the ecology and behaviour of our native bats, exploring their remarkable biology, the threats facing their populations and the conservation work underway to protect them.
Drawing on extensive field experience, Fredrik will share practical conservation work and fascinating insights into the lives of these extraordinary animals. Discover how bats navigate, feed and communicate, and what it takes to monitor and protect them in the wild.
This is a chance to look at New Zealand's natural world from a different perspective and discover more about one of our most fascinating — and often overlooked — native species.
Meet Fredrik Hjelm 🎤
Fredrik Hjelm is a field-based practitioner in ecology, ecology and environmental operations with Living Tree. His work crosses Aotearoa in pekapeka conservation, land protection, canopy research and large-scale forest surveys, with a strong focus on practical, field-led approaches to environmental care.
His work is grounded in collaboration with mana whenua and local communities. Fredrik is also the handler of Hawaii, a founding Aotearoa's first certified bat conservation dog team, supporting the monitoring and protection of New Zealand's threatened native bats.
What We'll Explore
• The fascinating world of New Zealand's native bats, or pekapeka
• How our native bats have adapted to life in Aotearoa
• Bat ecology, behaviour and their role in forest ecosystems
• The challenges and threats facing native bat populations
• How conservation teams monitor and protect pekapeka
• The practical realities of field-based conservation work
• Why protecting native bats matters for New Zealand's natural environment
📍 Location: Eden Garden, Epsom
📅 Date: Wednesday 30 September 2026
🕙 Time: 10:00am–12:00pm
☕ Refreshments: Tea and coffee included
🎟️ Tickets: $55 per person
👥 Hosted by Love Heart
Warm, welcoming learning experiences designed for people who enjoy discovering new ideas and meeting interesting people.
New Zealand's native bats, or pekapeka, are among our most mysterious and least-seen native species. Small, elusive and uniquely adapted to life in Aotearoa, they play an important role in our forest ecosystems — yet many people know little about the challenges they face.
Join Fredrik Hjelm for a fascinating introduction to the ecology and behaviour of our native bats, exploring their remarkable biology, the threats facing their populations and the conservation work underway to protect them.
Drawing on extensive field experience, Fredrik will share practical conservation work and fascinating insights into the lives of these extraordinary animals. Discover how bats navigate, feed and communicate, and what it takes to monitor and protect them in the wild.
This is a chance to look at New Zealand's natural world from a different perspective and discover more about one of our most fascinating — and often overlooked — native species.
Meet Fredrik Hjelm 🎤
Fredrik Hjelm is a field-based practitioner in ecology, ecology and environmental operations with Living Tree. His work crosses Aotearoa in pekapeka conservation, land protection, canopy research and large-scale forest surveys, with a strong focus on practical, field-led approaches to environmental care.
His work is grounded in collaboration with mana whenua and local communities. Fredrik is also the handler of Hawaii, a founding Aotearoa's first certified bat conservation dog team, supporting the monitoring and protection of New Zealand's threatened native bats.
What We'll Explore
• The fascinating world of New Zealand's native bats, or pekapeka
• How our native bats have adapted to life in Aotearoa
• Bat ecology, behaviour and their role in forest ecosystems
• The challenges and threats facing native bat populations
• How conservation teams monitor and protect pekapeka
• The practical realities of field-based conservation work
• Why protecting native bats matters for New Zealand's natural environment
📍 Location: Eden Garden, Epsom
📅 Date: Wednesday 30 September 2026
🕙 Time: 10:00am–12:00pm
☕ Refreshments: Tea and coffee included
🎟️ Tickets: $55 per person
👥 Hosted by Love Heart
Warm, welcoming learning experiences designed for people who enjoy discovering new ideas and meeting interesting people.
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Where is it happening?
Eden Garden Society Inc., 24 Omana Avenue, Epsom,Auckland, New Zealand
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherLove Heart NZ
