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Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre is pleased to announce the successful hatching of Koha Te Aroha, the small kiwi chick named by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The Prime Minister’s kiwi hatched on Friday 8th of November 2019 at 6.30pm and weighed just 306 grams. The chick’s sex is not obvious … View morePūkaha National Wildlife Centre is pleased to announce the successful hatching of Koha Te Aroha, the small kiwi chick named by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The Prime Minister’s kiwi hatched on Friday 8th of November 2019 at 6.30pm and weighed just 306 grams. The chick’s sex is not obvious but can be determined after six months if feathers are sent for DNA testing. The hatching follows the Prime Minister’s visit to Pūkaha on 7th November 2019, where she was welcomed by Mike Kawana, the kaumātua for Rangitāne o Wairarapa, and invited to name one of the kiwi eggs waiting to hatch in an incubator.
A thrilled Jacinda Ardern – and now proud new ‘kiwi’ mother - was said to be ecstatic at the news of the successful hatching. It was also the first time she had ever named a kiwi. The Prime Minister said, “It was humbling to be able to, for the very first time, name one of our most beloved birds. I thank Rangitāne o Wairarapa for giving me this special honour”.
Ardern named the wee kiwi Koha Te Aroha (gift of love) in acknowledgement of the Wairarapa iwi’s incredible gifting to New Zealand of Pūkaha’s 942 hectare forest reserve that will happen in February 2021. She said the reciprocity of giving and love, also evident in her daughter’s name, played a part in her decision. “In the same way that I considered naming Neve Te Aroha, I thought about the people around us that had so much hope for our future and showed us incredible kindness and so it was in the spirit of giving, and the generosity of Rangitāne o Wairarapa who have gifted the land for Pūkaha, that Koha came to mind”, she said.
Koha Te Aroha is from one of a batch of kiwi eggs given to Pūkaha for hatching in 2019 through the Kiwis for kiwi programme, Saving the Kiwi. This aims to reverse the decline of kiwi numbers in New Zealand and instead grow the overall kiwi population by 2% every year. It does this using Operation Nest Egg to stock a few predator-free sites, called kiwi kōhanga. These are usually islands, or predator-free fenced sanctuaries. Eggs are collected from the wild, incubated in a facility such as Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, and the chicks released to the kōhanga at around 3 or 4 weeks of age. There, they will grow, find a mate, and have chicks of their own. In time, the young kiwi will be removed and released to safe places in the wild.
Koha Te Aroha will spend next 20 days at Pūkaha gaining strength for the journey to Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, a kiwi kōhanga site near Cambridge. It is hoped the new hatchling will remind others of the gifts of love, kindness and giving and be an advocate for kiwi conservation in the years to come.
Gidday neighbours, who is heading to the Central Districts cricket match at Fitzherbert Park on Sunday? Let's hope for a sunny day!
Tēnā koutou, neighbours,
There is a special event for men happening tomorrow night in Carterton. Come along or invite your male friends. It is gathering of men 14+ seeking or offering (or ideally both) support with other men from the neighbourhood and wide Wairarapa district. We will share our … View moreTēnā koutou, neighbours,
There is a special event for men happening tomorrow night in Carterton. Come along or invite your male friends. It is gathering of men 14+ seeking or offering (or ideally both) support with other men from the neighbourhood and wide Wairarapa district. We will share our stories, sad or happy, all welcome because we all learn so much through the stories, especially when more generations are present. It will also be networking because people who are running or starting similar initiatives in different towns will be present and share their experiences. So let's co-create and sharpen the vision for the future of all of us. Carterton Community Courthouse (Holloway St), 7 pm, come on time! Check out more on www.mensgroup...
Shotguns, rifles and pistols were discovered by police in a series of incidents in Wairarapa over t…
A Masterton restaurant worker hasn't been seen since last week. Masterton Police were appealing for…
Forest hill road, aokautere area. Any info would be appreciated. Reward for return
What were once seen as big city property prices are putting the squeeze on locals in some small N…
A small Martinborough School that has been struggling to stay open for two years will close. The Mi…
We are keeping it country. Come along and enjoy your day. Dec 1st 9am til 4pm. Stalls available. Email mauriceville85@gmail.com Token adult entry $2, kids free. Free car parking.
People rent out baches, rooms in their houses, their garages and car parking spaces, so surely hiring out swimming pools is the next logical step.
A new app lets people hire their private pools by the hour, but it hasn't come to New Zealand - yet.
To read more, click here.
Learn more about our new rural crime prevention signs, now available for purchase to the public, on our website: neighbourhoodsupport.co.nz or click the 'Read More' link below. 📰
#safercommunitiestogether
Hi neighbours,
We're to keen to know if pot plant and garden thievery is still a common problem and what people are doing about it.
If you've had a pot plant or something else taken from your garden in the last year and would like to share, could you please email homed@stuff.co.nz … View moreHi neighbours,
We're to keen to know if pot plant and garden thievery is still a common problem and what people are doing about it.
If you've had a pot plant or something else taken from your garden in the last year and would like to share, could you please email homed@stuff.co.nz with your name, your neighbourhood and a quick recap of what was taken and how it happened.
We'd love to hear from you!
“Christmas cards for people alone this Christmas”
Many people are alone or in Rest homes, Woman’s refuge, hospitals etc at Christmas time and do not get visitors or
Please write a card for someone who might feel lonely this Christmas. (Cards can be handmade or bought). Anyone can write… View more“Christmas cards for people alone this Christmas”
Many people are alone or in Rest homes, Woman’s refuge, hospitals etc at Christmas time and do not get visitors or
Please write a card for someone who might feel lonely this Christmas. (Cards can be handmade or bought). Anyone can write a card the
Most important thing is that they are filled with love
Little tips about sending someone love in an envelope this year...
- Make sure your card is filled with love.
- Make it as creative as you can.
- Ensure it has a legible message (if a child’s words are illegible, please write in brackets underneath).
- Keep your envelope unsealed to give the rest homes discretion to check cards if they choose.
- You could start the card with "dear friend" or "to someone special"
- Try to avoid religious quotes - your recipient may not be religious
Just be you!
Deadline for cards 8th December.
For more information:
Website - www.sendinglove.co.nz... or on Facebook
Please spread the word, tell your family and friends!!
Thank you for putting a smile on someone’s face this Christmas
Drop Boxes have been set up at: Masterton, Greytown and
Martinborough Libraries
Wairarapa Times Age
Almo's Books Carterton
St Teresa's School Featherston
Thank you for supporting "Sending Love"
Marilyn (Wairarapa Co Ordinator)
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