Education
Educational conservation resources for yourself, your whānau and kura.
Educational resources for parents, teachers, care-givers and wider whānau updated weekly.
Created by conservation experts at Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre and beyond, these resources aim to engage tamariki in conservation topics. Designed to suit a range of age groups and a variety of interests, we hope these online activities inspire young nature lovers.
Te Wiki Tiaki Ao Tūroa/Conservation Week, 15-23 August 2020 encourages everyone to see nature through new eyes. Check out conservation quizzes, competitions and activities here.
In the Wairarapa, get creative with your visual story telling skills and make a short film to connect people with nature. All ages welcome, entries close 29 August 2020. Entry details here.
Articles
Mapping the Tuatara genome restores 250 million years of evolution – Nature, 7 August 2020
The Pūkaha Forest & the Night Sky – (3pgs, pdf Wairarapa Sky & Pūkaha)
Ngā Whetu O Matariki – learn about the nine stars of Matariki (3pgs, pdf)
Tuna Kuwharuwharu – facts, threats, and how to help. (25 pgs, pdf)
Our oldest inhabitants: Tuatara
5 Native Plants Used In Māori Medicine
Activities
Download, print and play!
Build your own long-tailed bat! KCC template
NZ Garden Bird Survey – 16 downloadable bird outlines to print and colour
Pūkaha worksheets: kākā, kōkako, takahē (6 pgs, pdf)
Arbor Day, 2020 Why do you think trees are important? #Be with a tree, KCC native leaves activity sheet
KCC Be with a tree A4 activity poster, pdf
Native bird egg challenge – name the birds that these eggs belong to. Hint: some birds have more than one egg. Answer below.
Online games
2020 Conservation Week (15-23 Aug) – a series of DOC quizzes
NZ Garden Bird Survey (27 June – 5 July) – identification quizzes
Take the Pūkaha Takahē Quiz – April is Takahē Awareness Month
Play the Pūkaha Wildlife Identification game
Online colouring NZ native animals
Puzzles – You choose the number of pieces!
Videos
The amazing properties of kawkawa – Tehei Taiao, Te Amokura Productions
NZ Garden Bird Survey – Where do birds feed?
How big is that bird?
Effect of light pollution on wildlife
Backyard biodiversity video – the nocturnal world
How to attract native birds into your garden
How to make a simple wētā hotel