"The walk-through aviary will give visitors an amazing experience, providing them an even greater understanding of New Zealand's precious flora and fauna and how we, as individuals and collectively can play our part in its protection," Mrs Tickner said.
The walk-through aviary has been designed by the Pukaha Mount Bruce Board in collaboration with Fabric Structures Limited, who built The Cloud in Auckland's Viaduct; Boffa Miskall Landscape Architects and Rigg Zschokke Limited.
Pukaha has also received help from the Department of Conservation and Healesville Sanctuary in Victoria, Australia.
The aviary will be built on site near the existing blue duck aviaries. It will be 40m in length by 20m wide and is expected to house at least eight different species of native birds.
Building the aviary will herald the completion of a four-stage, high-end capital improvement programme at Pukaha.
These improvements started in 2008 with the upgrade of the visitor centre and interpretive gallery, the kiwi house including nursery and theatre and the toilet upgrade and replacement of the onsite sewerage and water collection facilities.
Pukaha Mount Bruce Board chairman Bob Francis says he is very grateful to have continued support from Trust House Foundation, who has been extremely supportive of the other three capital development stages.
Trust House Foundation chairman Craig Cooper said trustees had no hesitation in supporting the Pukaha Mount Bruce application.
"This reflects our support for what we regard as the jewel in the crown in Wairarapa.
"You can have a wonderful experience at Pukaha seeing eel and kaka being fed, walking through the interactive gallery and visiting the nocturnal house. But having a walk-through aviary with eight different species of native birds will provide another dimension to that experience; it will be the icing on the cake," he said.
