Pukaha wildlife centre celebrates

Bob Francis nurses a young kiwi at Pukaha Mount Bruce.PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre will celebrate ongoing successes at its yearly supporters' evening tonight.

Board chairman Bob Francis said he is looking forward to sharing the centre's good news with invited guests.

Tonight's function will celebrate the start of stage four of planned high-end capital improvements that have been made to Pukaha over the past six years.

Stage four relates specifically to the $1.1 million free-flight aviary which is due for completion at the end of February. The aviary will be 40 metres long by 20 metres wide and will house at least eight species of native birds including whio and pateke, both part of the national breeding programmes.

Mr Francis will acknowledge the transfer of management of Pukaha's captive management services, or care of breeding birds on site, from the Department of Conversation (DOC) to the community via the Pukaha Mount Bruce Board. This transfer happened on October 1 and follows DOC's strategic intent of trusting and ensuring local communities have control of their own natural environment.

Mr Francis says Pukaha has just confirmed the appointment of Todd Jenkinson, now working at Auckland Zoo, as conservation manager. Mr Jenkinson will start work at Pukaha in mid-January and will lead the captive management team and the forest restoration project.

This brings the total staff now employed at Pukaha to 24 with more than 30 regular volunteers also contributing.

"I'd like to acknowledge how successful the transfer of management of our captive breeding programme from DOC to the community has been. This is largely thanks to the fantastic partnership we have with DOC and the joint aim we share of returning birdsong to the bush at Pukaha," said Mr Francis.

"The board has proven it has financial and management capacity to look after all areas of activity at Pukaha. We've worked hard over the last six years to improve our infrastructure and are excited about further developing the visitor experience for the thousands who come here each year. The board will also continue to work closely with the local community and continue the great work we're doing around conservation."