Displaying items by tag: Pukaha

September 2017: Pukaha Mt Bruce

Since staff at Pukaha last caught up, the Pateke pair now have six ducklings in their care. The Whio, that live in their free flight aviary have also been sitting on a clutch of five eggs.

Also the first monitored wild kiwi chicks were safely hatched in the reserve. Staff said it was great to see the first conservation breeding of the season had taken place in the new free flight aviary. It is a super sign that the wildlife love this new space as much as the visitors who go to see the new young ones at Pukaha.

Free flight aviary popular at Pukaha Mt Bruce

At Pukaha Mt Bruce staff have been delighted with the way the birds have settled into their new home in the free flight aviary. The whio and pateke are loving their new areas and are not difficult
to spot. The whio are in an ‘internal aviary’ with a new river run while the other birds are all together in the bigger aviary space. Both the pateke and whio are breeding pairs.

The korimako seem to spend all day singing and while the kaka and kereru took a little while to settle in, they are now happy and busy in their new space and are almost oblivious to the visitors
who walk through the aviary.

If you are lucky enough to be at Pukaha at the free flight aviary at around 4pm there could be a ranger talk at the “Final Flight” area. It tells the story of the restoration project for the Pukaha forest and how captive breeding can help to protect and grow our endangered species.

Pukaha has a new general manager, Emily Court. She started in her role immediately after Labour weekend.

Ms Court moved to the Wairarapa from Christchurch two years ago after spending the previous five years working in a business recovery role after the 2010 and 2011 Christchurch earthquakes. She led a recovery programme for the international education sector which included securing a $5million funding package during her tenure.

Emily has also had previous roles in banking, retail, economic development and international education. Her most recent role has been with the Wairarapa branch of Public Trust as a Professional Trustee and manager. 

Ms Court has a business degree from Victoria University, an MBA and also holds a formal project management qualification.

This extensive business background will be a real asset to Pukaha, as they are in the process of planning several new and interesting developments.

Emily is excited about the new role and outside of it, will continue to spend time with her two children in their new Wairarapa home. In their spare time the family enjoys renovating their old bungalow in Carterton, riding their horses and exploring the North Island.

Welcome to the Pukaha team Emily

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General Manager: Emily Court is now into her new GM position