Media release

4 September 2013

Get involved this Conservation Week

Workshops on how to attract and nurture New Zealand native species in your own backyard are among the special activities on offer at Auckland Zoo this Conservation Week (7 – 15 September).

‘What’s your whanau doing?’ is this year’s theme, and everyone’s invited to get together to celebrate our unique wildlife and wildlife places and discover how to get involved and help protect them.

“The Zoo is proud to be involved in around 30 different conservation projects throughout New Zealand – projects that are successful because of the efforts of many different groups and individuals. At the Zoo this Conservation Week,  you’ll discover there are dozens of Auckland projects to get involved in, so come along and find out,” says Auckland Zoo director, Jonathan Wilcken.

It’s kiwi breeding season for the Auckland Zoo whanau, with three kiwi chicks already hatched and many more on the way. In celebration of a successful start to the BNZ Operation Nest Egg season for our precious national bird, the Zoo is giving Conservation Week visitors the opportunity to enter a draw to win the chance to meet a kiwi chick.

As well as ‘Nurturing natives, encouraging endemics’ workshops, there will be daily story time and face painting, animal encounters, Conservation Week guided walks, a Conservation Quiz and other fun activities for the kids. 

On Sunday 8 September at 10.30am (Old Elephant House), author Maria Gill will launch her Operation Nest Egg Chick e-book with a reading and special puppet-show re-enactment of releasing kiwi onto Motuora Island. Artist Bruce Potter will also showcase his artwork and offer a kiwi drawing workshop for kids.
Event Details
‘Nurturing Natives, Encouraging Endemics’ workshops:
Public sessions: Sat 7 Sept and Sat 14 Sept at 10am, 11am, 1pm, & 2pm
Friends of the Zoo sessions: Mon 9 Sept, Tues 10 Sept, Wed 11 Sept, Thurs 12 Sept, from 2pm-2.30pm

Story time: 10.30am daily at The Islands in Te Wao Nui
Face painting: 10am – 3pm daily at The Islands in Te Wao Nui
Guided Walks: Sat 7 Sept, 11am-12pm; Mon 9 Sept,11am – 12pm; Tues 10 Sept, 1pm-2pm; Wed 11 Sept, 11am-12pm; Thurs 12 Sept, 11am-12pm; Fri 13 Sept, 1pm-2pm; Sat 14 Sept, 11am-12pm; Sun 15 Sept, 1pm-2pm (gold coin donation to Auckland Zoo Conservation Fund). Walks leave from outside the Information Centre.
Make your own bird feeder:  Mon 9 Sept, Tues, 10 Sept, Thurs 12 Sept, Friday 13 Sept, 1pm at The Islands in Te Wao Nui (15 spaces available, first in first served. No booking required)
NZ native animal encounters (daily): Seal, kea, eel, native reptiles, penguin and NZ birds. For the full encounter schedule and times, visit  www.aucklandzoo.co.nz

For more information about Conservation Week visit:
http://www.doc.govt.nz/getting-involved/events-and-awards/conservation-week/

ENDS

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