Eketāhuna storywalk planned

The storywalk at Himatangi Beach is similar to what is planned for Eketāhuna.

A fun and different way of getting people to interact with the natural environment is being planned for Eketāhuna.

The storywalk is a concept that has been used in other areas around the Manawatū and Tararua libraries have taken up the idea.

District librarian Brenda Graves spoke on it at the Eketāhuna Community Board meeting.

She said the storywalk, which adapts a picture book to be displayed on storyboards and located along a walk, was planned for the cliff top walk in Eketāhuna.

While they were waiting for a start date, she told board members that everything else was in place as far as concrete and posts were concerned.

Manukura the white kiwi, pictured in 2014. Photo / NZME

The book chosen was Manukura the White Kiwi, by Joy Cowley, and illustrated by Bruce Potter.

Graves said Pukaha National Wildlife Centre was fully on board with the idea.

“They’re quite impressed and have come on board quickly with providing labour as well as wanting to do an opening ceremony for it.”

She said the book was an obvious choice to ask for copyright rights to publish as a storywalk due to it being about a kiwi at Pukaha, adding that the cliff top walk in Eketāhuna was the obvious place to put it as it was close to the wildlife centre.

The book has 32 pages and 16 storyboards are planned with the last one allowing the library to thank the sponsors and all those involved with creating the storywalk.