P�kaha National Wildlife Centre

EVERLYNE CHASE, EMILY COURT, KELLY BODY, CHRISTINE REED (SEATED).

Wahine toa of Pūkaha: continuing the legacy of Manukura

Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre history features many strong and independent women of both the feathered and human kind. Rangitāne Kuia championed our conservation efforts and held firm as Pūkaha Mana Whenua in the early days of the wildlife service, Manukura the white kiwi, raised international awareness of the plight of her species and Kahurangi the North Island kōkako lives a life of luxury while capturing the imaginations and awe of all who meet her. In 2022, wahine toa (strong women) continue to invest their hearts and their expertise in Pūkaha, taonga of the Wairarapa and Tararua regions. Pūkaha has a total of 35 staff including visitor hosts, café, rangers, maintenance, administration, marketing, predator control and education positions. Volunteers also make a significant contribution across all areas too – hundreds of hours of volunteer time are invested each month. Leading Pūkaha with passion are Emily Court (General Manager), Christine Reed (Biodiversity Manager), Everlyne Chase (Kaiarahi Māori and Visitor Centre Team Leader) and Kelly Body (Education Director). It is a significant time in the history of Pūkaha. The gifting of the 942ha reserve by Rangitāne to the people of Aotearoa in 2021 has upped the ante and the time is right to invest heavily in the future of the reserve, to ensure that this Tuku (gift) is never taken for granted, and that the potential opportunties that this place holds for environmental, cultural and social benefit are realised. Te Wānanga Taiao – Environmental Education Centre currently under construction, is at the heart of plans to achieve this vision. Te Wānanga Taiao will accommodate groups of up to 90 people including schools, community and business organisations. The adjoining wharenui will be a place of ceremony, of meeting and of learning. A commercial kitchen and beautiful dining area will seat 100 people. Visitor groups from all walks of life will stay at the Reserve overnight and experience the native forest at dawn and dusk when it really comes alive. Emily Court has been the General Manager at Pūkaha for four and a half years now. She still pinches herself when she thinks about the how privileged she is to work here. It’s a far cry from the world of Banking and Economic Development that she was accustomed to. “Pūkaha, and

conservation get under your skin pretty quickly. The world is in a state of dissaray and the work that is done here and the plans for the Wānanga have the potential to make a real difference and to turn around the wrongs of the past.”

Christine Reed is at the forefront of endangered species captive breeding and forest restoration science in Aotearoa. She believes wholeheartedly in the power of education as the way to continue conservation efforts, for future generations to continue and benefit from. Everlyne Chase loves nothing more than sharing the mauri (life essence) of the ngahere (forest) with others. Her passion for Māoritanga, tikanga and whakapapa (Māori culture, customs and genealogy) shines through in every interaction with visitors and manu (birds) alike. Te Wānanga Taiao is a special place for Rangitāne for cultural learning including a wharenui. Kelly Body brings life and light to Te Wānanga Taiao. As Education director her responsibility is to develop educational opportunities that connect students with Te Taiao and help them forge a deeper understanding of the unique ecology and history of Pūkaha. Te Wānanga Taiao is central to this - by hearing kiwi calling, discovering the insects that live at Pūkaha by night, getting hands on in the ngahere at all hours. The combined passions of these wahine and the whole Pūkaha team make for an exciting future.