Today I went to the kiwi release on Mataia farm up at Kaukapakapa (1 hour drive north from school). It started with a powhiri (welcome) to welcome us onto the whenua (land). Then after we were officially welcomed we mingled with the hosts and had morning tea. Thanks to Mrs Masters for your delicious cheese muffins and fruit loaf! Then we joined the hosts and did another powhiri to welcome the kiwi onto the farm. This experience was new to lots of Meadowbank children and families so it was fabulous to be able to be part of it all.
After the kiwi were formally welcomed they were taken out of their boxes and carried around to everyone so we could get the chance to stroke them. I was imagining them to be really soft but I found out that their feathers are actually quite rough and prickly. The DOC workers that were carrying them had been out all last night catching them on Moturoa Island. They only managed to get 5 kiwi because the full moon made them hid away and hard to find.
Four lucky Meadowbank children (2 ex students) and Nicky Elmore were asked to go with the DOC workers in their 4x4 drive vehicles to release them out in the protected area of the farm.
What a day! I wish you had been there to experience it too.
Mrs Cook
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