Phillip Waddington Conservationist

At the very young age of 4 Phillip started keeping and breeding birds. 

Along with a typical NZ lifestyle of spending time in his local native forest and at the beach — he had an early appreciation of nature. This was a source of inspiration for his early drawings. 

A highlight of his early teens was finding a previously undiscovered hybrid between two NZ native butterflies —- and realising its significance. 

Subsequently an academic paper was written by the entomologist at the Wellington museum on this find. He was influenced further when he became associated with the Animal Ecology Division of the Department of Science and Research. Phillip went on extensive field trips with these experts which further reinforced his drive to promote and protect endangered species by collectively using his knowledge of art, science and Maori culture. 

Phillip sold most of his artworks in the 1990’s to protect 57 acres of pre-European forest located in Stokes Valley, Wellington. He was wanting to save it from development housing. He was then faced with the huge task of caring for this land (kaitiaki) and controlling the predators of the native wildlife within.