About us



WWF-New Zealand is the local office of the WWF International Network, the world’s largest and most experienced independent conservation organisation. It has close to five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries.

WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature. This is achieved by working on the ground with local communities, and in partnership with government and industry, using the best possible science to advocate change and effective conservation policy.

Our New Zealand programmes include research, advocacy and partnerships aimed at protecting precious habitats and species, minimising harm from fishing and other activities, reducing impacts from climate change, and conserving and protecting New Zealand wildlife.

The majority of donations to WWF-New Zealand are spent on conservation in New Zealand, Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.

WWF - What’s in a name?

The evolution of WWF's panda logo over the last 50 years, showing 5 different logos throughout ... © WWF
As we’ve grown we have also changed our name from the World Wildlife Fund to the World Wide Fund for Nature to reflect our focus on protecting the environment as a whole, rather than protecting species in isolation. Increasingly, to avoid confusion across languages and cultures, we are known simply as “WWF”.

How WWF began

WWF was born into this world in 1961.

It was the product of a deep concern held by a few eminent men who were worried by what they saw happening in our world at that time.

Since those early days WWF has grown up to be one of the largest environmental organisations in the world.  What this means is that WWF's reach is global yet local. It combines localised, practical actions and field projects with broader initiatives to influence environmental decision-making and industrial practices, based on sound conservation policies and constructive dialogue.

WWF runs about 1,300 projects at any one time around the world.
 

...and how we work today

The vast majority of WWF projects focus on local issues.

This means that in the same way we support environmental education for Kiwi kids and work with local communities to protect endangered Hector’s dolphins, WWF is also establishing giant panda reserves in China or working with fishermen in Brazil to identify and protect marine turtle nests.
 

The importance of partnerships.

Almost all our work involves partnerships.

In New Zealand and around the world our approach is the same. We work with scientists and conservationists in the field to make sure we have the best knowledge available. We team up with local non-profit agencies and other global NGOs. We form relationships with village elders, local councils and regional government offices. And in this day and age of globalisation, critically, we work with businesses who are willing to change.

But we couldn’t hope to achieve all this without partnership with you.

Your support gives us the mandate to lobby for improved legislation to protect the environment, and provides vital funds to help build a future in which people live in harmony with nature.


WWF

Building a future in which people live in harmony with nature.

Photos and graphics © WWF or used with permission. Text available under a Creative Commons licence.