Extra

Business trophy added to collection

Aratoi Wairarapa Museum of Art and History is thrilled to have won the Harcourts Hamill Realty Innovation Award in this year’s Wairarapa Business Awards, held last week at the Business Wairarapa Awards Garden Party at Rose & Smith, Tauherenikau.

Over 50 businesses were whittled down to create the finalists in October, with Aratoi placed in the Innovation category.

New Aratoi director Sarah McClintock and Becky Bateman were there to receive the award last week.

McClintock has only been in the role two months, so she thanked previous director Susanna Shadbolt and Aratoi staff for all their work over the last six years getting the museum to this point.

“…We are thrilled to win this year’s Harcourts Hamill Realty Innovation Award,” Sarah says. “The whole team has worked incredibly hard to create an innovative and sustainable museum over the last few years. We love trying out new ideas but understand that keeping in touch with our audience is crucial to our success and to ensure the museum stays accessible for all. We strive to be a positive role model in our community.

“The category finalists were a terrific bunch of businesses, so it must have been a difficult decision for the judges. We are delighted with the award because it shows us that we are on the right track and that people are keen to see the museum change and improve.”

Judges were particularly impressed with Aratoi’s sustainability ethos, its work with the community and with its innovative programming.

McClintock is excited to keep pushing the boundaries as the 2023 exhibition schedule promises to be stimulating, varied and thoughtful. An interactive family exhibition over winter around Matariki, many new local artist showcases, and the touring Rita Angus exhibition are just a few highlights coming up over the next year.

Sarah McClintock, Aratoi director, receives the award for Best Innovative Business at the Wairarapa Business Awards. PHOTO/ ERIN KAVANAGH-HALL

CONSERVATION KŌRERO Kia ora to brown baby kiwi with white spot

George Hewitt

The Pūkaha team was excited to welcome a new manu [bird] into our ngahere [forest] on October 11.

Our first kiwi chick of the 2022 breeding season is MB116. The name of the chick contains the initials of Mount Bruce, where Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre is, and a reference to the number of kiwi Pūkaha have hatched in the reserve.

It is too early to tell the sex of a new kiwi chick. Once that is known he or she will be given an appropriate name decided on by Rangitāne iwi leaders – the name often relates to the kiwi and its personality.

But what we do know is MB116 hatched at a perfect weight of 285 grams and is a North Island Brown kiwi.

Tara Swan, a Pūkaha senior conservation ranger said: “MB116 hatched without any help and was already a little feisty number, very fitting also as the kiwi hatched in ‘Save the Kiwi Week’.”

MB116’s father is Mapuna, a white kiwi who was brother of our late kiwi Manukura. Its mother is the beautiful Manawa. Both parents live in an outside aviary at Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre.

The chick sports a white spot on its forehead. A real homage to the white feathers [a rare genetic trait, leucism] that its world-famous late Aunt Manukura sported.

For one week the new kiwi chick was fed ox heart by members of our conservation rangers team.

Lucky visitors during this time were able to witness this at the noon kiwi talk at Pūkaha.

However, now the chick is eating so well on its own, it no longer needs Pūkaha rangers’ support.

Once MB116 has matured, visitors may be able to see it next in the Pūkaha Nocturnal House.

All kiwi in the kiwi captive breeding programme at Pūkaha and wild in our reserve are brown kiwi.

The North Island Brown is one of the most common kiwi in Aotearoa. In 2021 their population was expected to be 28,000.

A Pūkaha conservation ranger holds MB116. PHOTO/TARA SWAN

WALKIES! BUT WHERE?

It’s important to know where you can take your dog for exercise around Masterton. y Dogs are not permitted outside vehicles in the CBD or children’s play areas. y Dogs need to be on a lead when walking in urban areas and Queen Elizabeth Park. y There are heaps of great off-lead areas close to town - search ‘Where can I take my dog?’ on our website: www.mstn.govt.nz y Dogs must be under supervision and control at all times.