KIWIS< SHEEP< TREES PIT MEAL!

 

 

The National Kiwi Hatchery Aotearoa

Currently there are about 68,000 kiwi left in New Zealand and they diminishing by about 2% every year. 

The National Kiwi Hatchery is involved in efforts to sustain the Kiwi population. In the wild kiwi chicks are predated upon by stoats, making the survival rate rather low.

The male kiwi broods the nest and when a male is observed sitting on a nest the eggs are collected. They are carefully transported to the hatchery where the incubation is finished.

The chicks are fed for their first three weeks. At that time they are placed in an enclosure where forest conditions are simulated. Then when they reach about 1 kilo in weight they are released into the wild.

This was a great experience and it was nice to be able to support such great work.

 

NO PHOTOS ALLOWED INSIDE THE REALLY INTERESTING AREAS



Agrodome Farm Tour: 

Here we saw a sheep shearing and the many different sheep they raise. The also raise Red Deer and Alpacas. 

We had a very nice lunch at their Bowen House.

 

 

Rotorua Canopy Tours: 

While most of the group went zip lining, a few of us chose to do a forest walk. It was most excellent to be able to walk this virgin forest. My little brain is so full of the information imparted. We watched some birds i.e. the North Island robin and others. Learning about the many many plants and vines and ferns and trees. The guides were great and we have a fun informative time. 

 

                    A stoat, these bad boys prey upon kewis

                                       Silver Fern

             This is a vine and not a tree, they grow them big.

 This tree is really really old like hundres of years 200-400  YOA


Maori Cultural experience:

Here we got to experience Māori culture as you entered a marae (a communal house) which are considered a sacred place. We were greeted  with a traditional Māori welcome. We experienced song and dance and the Haka. 

 

                                A nice way to end the day

Our meal was prepared in a  hangi.  This is a hot rock covered pit. The meal cooked for about 3 hours and 45 minutes. Cooked in our hangi  were root vegetables, chicken and lamb. The whole experience was in essence where we all became family. 

It was an amazingly great meal. 

 

 
We then returned to the hotel for some strategic packing as we have an internal flight with weight limits.