Great opportunity. Open day at Pūkaha Mt Bruce this Sunday

Piers Fuller Reporter from News of Wairarapa

Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre will be opening its doors on Sunday 27th October 2019 and welcoming the local community inside for its second annual Community Open Day. Everyone is welcome. To make the day accessible and affordable for all, entry will be by koha (donation). All visitors will be warmly greeted by staff and free to wander the forest reserve, discover wildlife or take in one of the many activities planned for the day. There will be plenty to see and do with a focus on fun, families, and education for all ages.

Pūkaha Rangers will give free guided tours and talks and local iwi, Rangitāne o Wairarapa, will hold carving and weaving demonstrations. There will be many children’s activities running such as rock painting, kiwi art making, seed bomb making to attract insects, mini insect hotel making to re-home garden insects, plus field talks on subjects such as “which eggs belong to which birds?”. Specialist storytellers will read to children and tell stories about native wildlife.
Gates will open at 10am and close at 4pm. A schedule of activities and start times will be issued to the Pūkaha Whānau Facebook page once it is available and given to visitors on arrival. Attendees should bring cash with them to support the array of local community market stalls as no eftpos or credit card facilities will be available. There will be everything from informational booths through to market arts and crafts stands. DOC will provide a sausage sizzle and the Kākā Café will be selling takeaway food items such as sandwiches, wraps, pies, sausage rolls and a range of sweet desserts, slices and cakes.
Visitors are welcome to bring their own food and drinks, but no alcohol will be allowed on the premises and pets should be left at home. Attendees should also consider carpooling in order to ease traffic congestion and the pressure on parking facilities. Free buses, sponsored by the Masterton District Council, will run from Martinborough, Featherston, Greytown, Carterton & Masterton. Places will be limited. Those wanting to book a seat should contact Zoe at Tranzit on phone number 06 370 6600 or email zoef@tranzit.co.nz.
This will be the second time that Pūkaha has held a Community Open Day with last year’s successful event attracting over 1500 visitors.