Miri Kirihimete

Ngā mihi o te Kirihimete me te Tau Hou from the Puke Ariki education team!

Hoani and Keri practice their Christmas cheer. (We think they're ready for a holiday!)

Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday season - we look forward to working with you in 2012.

2012 programme highlights

As the school year comes to an end, we thought it a good time to remind you of the fantastic LEOTC programmes available at Puke Ariki and Aotea Utanganui in 2012.

Don't forget you can book online - it takes 2-3 minutes and we'll email you to confirm. Easy as that!

Some of our Term 1 highlights are:

Anne Frank - A History for Today: a touring exhibition of the story of Anne Frank and the Holocaust. This is a self-guided lesson only (with excellent online resources) but we request you book with us to avoid clashes with other groups.

Treasures of the Sea: discover what's unique about a variety of New Zealand sea creatures, including the whale, shark, octopus and starfish. A great complement to your Seaweek studies (3-11 March).

Treasures of the Sea: Term 1 at Puke Ariki

Words in Wood: Discover the stories of our ancestors through the carvings and tukutuku panels of Aotea Utanganui.

Mounga Taranaki: students will discover the historic significance of Mount Taranaki, how volcanic activity created the mountain and how its natural resources have been used.

Check out the rest of our 2012 programmes here. We look forward to seeing you in 2012!

Mutunga: our legacy, our challenge, our future

Mutunga: our legacy, our challenge, our future is the new exhibition at Puke Ariki. Mutunga tells a story of the North Taranaki iwi, Ngāti Mutunga, who have maintained their iwi through war, mass migration, land confiscation and wholesale changes to their world.

This exhibition brings together, for the first time, a collection of historical and contemporary taonga, manuscripts, paintings and artworks that help tell the story of the people. Walk into a world seen through Ngāti Mutunga eyes - a world largely inaccessible to those without tribal connections.

We're offering an education programme for Mutunga in Term 1 next year, This is an excellent opportunity for students to learn about the long and proud history of this Taranaki iwi.  Book your class online or contact us for further details.

The Milky Bar...Snail?!

Our Slimy and Legless education programme was very popular this term. Feedback from teachers and students tells us kids loved the opportunity to discover more about the Taranaki giant Powelliphanta snail, but especially enjoyed getting up close and watching a garden snail move about. They now see these amazing creatures in a whole new light - that's just what we love to hear!

Our final Slimy and Legless lesson for 2011 was held yesterday at Puke Ariki. It coincided perfectly with this discovery of an albino Powelliphanta in the Kahurangi National Park. Check it out - doesn't it look amazing?

Photo: Maria Brooks via www.stuff.co.nz

Research-arama

We've had a great time working with Devon Intermediate students who visited Puke Ariki recently for a specialised research programme. Based in the Taranaki Research Centre, the students used their skills of research, investigation and analysis to discover more about survival on Mount Taranaki.

Our educators can develop research programmes around your term topic or focus areas in 2012. The 2012 research topic is the early settlement of New Plymouth, but we welcome your suggestions for alternative focus areas. Contact us to discuss further.

2012 Programme

The 2012 LEOTC programme is live on the Puke Ariki website! A copy was sent to all Taranaki schools this week, and emailed to teachers on our e-database. (Don't have a copy? Email us and we'll send you one!)

The programme details all the exciting programmes available next year at Puke Ariki and Aotea Utanganui - Museum of South Taranaki, and we're already taking bookings from schools for 2012. (You can also book a class visit online - it's quick and easy, we promise!).

Hands-on activities: students get up close and personal with a garden snail during a recent 'Slimy & Legless' programme.

Teachers - don't forget to check out our supporting programmes - including museum objects for loan to schools, educator visits to school camps, special Puke Ariki teacher orientations, and professional development opportunities.

2012 programme - hot off the press

We're happy to announce that our 2012 programme will be sent to all Taranaki schools this week. What do you think of the front cover?

We'll also email the programme to teachers on our e-database. If you'd like to receive a copy in your inbox, please contact us with your details.

The programme will also be available to view on the Puke Ariki website.

Do you know any legends?

We're sure you have some true legends amongst your students. The Puke Ariki summer reading programme is about to begin, and we're looking for kids to take part in the 2011 programme 'Be a Legend'.

The programme is free for primary aged children (5-10 years), encouraging them to keep reading over the school holidays. Participants visit their local library for informal 'check-ins' where they chat about the books they're reading, fun activities and prizes.

Do you know students who would enjoy this programme? Contact the enthusiastic children's librarians at Puke Ariki, Bell Block, Waitara, Inglewood, Oakura or Urenui libraries for more details. Registrations are open now until Sunday 4 December - places are limited, so get in quick!

Congratulations, Keri!

Our very own Puke Ariki Educator Keri Elvin has been recognised for her teaching prowess with an Exceptional Adult Educator Award from ACE (Adult Community Education) Taranaki.

Keri teaches Te Reo Maori at ACE Taranaki and was nominated for the award by two of her pupils. She says receiving the award was amazing as it was the first time she had won anything for just doing what she loves to do and it has given her a warm fuzzy feeling all over!

Nice work, Keri - we're proud of you!

Puke Ariki Advent Calendar

What does Christmas mean to you? We want to know!

Each Christmas Puke Ariki creates a walking advent calendar. This year we are seeking involvement from local schools to creatively share what Christmas means to them. The result will be an A1 (59cm x 59 cm), 2 dimensional art work on public display in the library at Puke Ariki during the Christmas period.

For more information please email Clare O'Connell on oconnellc@npdc.govt.nz. Displays should be delivered to the library by 1 December.

Slimy and legless in action!

Our very new and exciting Slimy and Legless programme begins today. Slimy and Legless focuses on the endangered Taranaki giant snail (Powelliphanta "Egmont") that lurks deep within the Egmont National Park.

Did you know that the Powelliphanta snail loves to eat earthworms, and sucks them up through their mouth like we eat spaghetti?! (Thanks to DOC for our Powelliphanta fact of the day!)

When we heard that, we had to learn more about the Powelliphanta, as well as the garden snails that we find in our own garden. In fact, Slimy and Legless features some very special guests, one of whom our educators Keri and Hoani are getting to know in this photo:

Do you have any fascinating facts about snails? Have you seen a Powelliphanta snail up close? Leave us a comment - we love to hear your feedback.

Check out more about the Slimy and Legless lesson or contact us to book your class.

Free Taranaki Wars teacher resource!

The Taranaki Wars: A Teaching Resource was produced by Puke Ariki in 2010 as part of the award winning exhibition Te Ahi Kā Roa, Te Ahi Kātoro Taranaki War 1860–2010: Our Legacy - Our Challenge .

We have copies of this resource available free for teachers and schools. Please contact us for your copy.

The Taranaki Wars: A Teaching Resource


The Taranaki Wars fought in the 1860s are a part of New Zealand’s history that everyone should be aware of. The dodgy land deals, the villains and heroes, the warriors and peace-makers. It’s all part of what happened and is retold here in this CD Rom. Discover the key figures from the past, learn about the battles, the forts, the pa sites and weapons used. Find out why the Taranaki Wars have been called ‘the never ending war’ and how the wars were a result of unrest and disappointment with the Treaty of Waitangi.

The activities on the CD Rom, in English and te reo, are aligned to the New Zealand Curriculum and unit plans and teaching guidelines are included, along with social inquiry templates. Teachers of the social sciences will find this resource a valuable complement to the units of study on the Treaty of Waitangi, Human Rights and Social Justice.

Welcome back!

What a fantastic weekend of World Cup Rugby - congratulations to the All Blacks. Still haven't had your fill of all things relating to the oval ball? Our fun programme for the It's Not Just a Game exhibition at Puke Ariki runs for two more weeks, and we have spaces available for the weeks beginning Monday 31 October and Monday 7 November. We suggest you get in quick - just like Richie to the breakdown - and as well as learning about the history of rugby in Taranaki, your students can kick a winning goal just like Dan Carter...or Colin Slade...or Piri Weepu...or Steven Donald!

Our Educator Erin with pupils enjoying the Rucks, Boots and Bulls lesson. Go the Amber and Black! Photo: Trevor Read.

Check out the full details for Rucks Boots and Bulls and the other Term 4 programmes.

This is Us: School Kids Get Hands On

The latest copy of This is Us is hot off the press!

This is Us is a quarterly publication sharing all the news and happenings at Puke Ariki. The Education team make the pages of Issue 7 twice - firstly with a photo of Educator Hoani Eriwata on page 6 and the recent whole school visit from West End School on the back page.

Check out the latest edition of This is Us here or enjoy our previous editions here.

Term 4 update

Our 'Notebook' newsletter was emailed to all Taranaki schools last week, giving you an update on our upcoming programmes for Term 4. Read the newsletter here.

Contact us to make a booking - we'd love to see your class at Puke Ariki next term.

Pre-school visits are GO!

We're happy to announce some exciting changes to our pre-school programmes at Puke Ariki.

We often have groups of young children who visit us with their kindergarten or daycare. We're all very excited that we can now offer you a more formalised range of programmes to suit your visit: a 'We Love the Library' session with our fabulous children's librarians,  'Mad about the Museum' with our Museum Educators, or the soon-to-be released self-guided Ruru trail (coming soon!).

Each session runs for 30 minutes - perfect timing for the little ones.

Visit the Puke Ariki website for more details and information on how to book.

Slimy and Legless...

As Term 3 draws to a close, our Education Team is gearing up for a busy Term 4 filled with a variety of exciting and interactive programmes at Puke Ariki. 

Next term we're offering a new programme: Slimy and Legless. Sounds intriguing, we know! Focusing on the Taranaki giant snail (Powelliphanta "Egmont") and its habitat, this lesson is an excellent opportunity for students to learn more about their local Taranaki environment. Slimy and Legless also compliments the Taranaki: Our Volcano lesson which students may have previously experienced at Puke Ariki.

Photo: Stratford Press

Discover more about Slimy and Legless and our other Term 4 programmes.
What programmes would you like the Education team to offer? Leave us a comment.

Our very popular programme focusing on the history of Taranaki rugby Rucks, Boots and Bulls kicked off at the start of September. Focusing on the history of Taranaki rugby and based in the fantastic new exhibition It's Not Just a Game, we've had several excited classes take part in the programme. The feedback so far has been brilliant: one teacher said "this has been the best visit - ever".

Educator Hoani teaches a class from Devon Intermediate. The amber and black looks great!

We really encourage you to bring your students to enjoy this fun programme, filled with interactive and engaging activities for students of all ages. Rucks, Boots and Bulls is available until Week 7 of Term 4 (week beginning 7 November): book online or contact us for more information.

Did you visit us for Rucks, Boots and Bulls ? What did you think? Leave us a comment.

Drawing on Chroma - free sketching workshop

Calling all art students, teachers, and wannabe artists! At 6pm this Wednesday 31 August Puke Ariki is offering a free sketching workshop run by Anne Smith and Pam Dohig.

In association with the exhibition Chroma: Paintings by Pam Walker, participants will learn sketching warm-up exercises, drawing techniques and tips, and be invited to head out into Puke Ariki to sketch something that catches their eye.

Participants will need to bring along a 2B or 4B pencil and an A3 or A4 sketching pad.

Bookings essential through the i-SITE at Puke Ariki. Phone (06) 759 0897 to register.

Penguin Experience 2011

Are you penguin mad? Keen to learn more about the Taranaki coastal environment and its natural wildlife? 60 Springs, the environmental education programme offered by Puke Ariki, is giving you a chance to enjoy your own up close and personal penguin experience on a three day interactive camp, based at Urenui Beach Camp, Urenui.

Photo: John Elliot

Learn from New Zealand penguin and conservation experts about the issues facing our Little Blue Penguins and what you can do to help. Use wildlife tracking techniques and a night‐vision camera to help survey local penguin populations, plus a whole heap more hands‐on activities.

Aimed at Year 9-13 students, the camp will start and finish at Puke Ariki, New Plymouth and will be primarily based at Urenui Beach Camp. Field trips include a visit to the Rapanui Grey Faced Petrel Colony (only mainland population in Taranaki) and Little Blue Penguin colony at Wai‐iti Beach.

Visit the 60 Springs page to learn more and to download an application form.  Applications close 26 September.

Rucks, Boots & Bulls

Our education office is abuzz with all things rugby in preparation for the launch of our new programme 'Rucks, Boots and Bulls' on Monday 29 August. The reaction from schools to this programme has been fantastic, and we're thrilled that so many classes will visit us to participate. 

'Rucks, Boots and Bulls' supports the upcoming Puke Ariki exhibition It's Not Just a Game: Whanau, Whakapapa, Whutupaoro - A Social History of Taranaki Rugby, which opens on Saturday 27 August. Check out the Puke Ariki website for details.

Click here to book your class for 'Rucks, Boots and Bulls' at Puke Ariki.  Meanwhile, here's a sneak peak at one of the very important lesson resources:

Our thanks to the Taranaki Rugby Football Union for their generous loan of several authentic Taranaki jerseys to use with students.

What does the amber and black jersey mean to you? Leave us a comment!

Puke Ariki Science Fair Workshops

This week members of our 60 Springs & Education teams - Nathan, Fiona and Hoani - organised a series of fun workshops focusing on the theme of 60 Springs: sustainability, education and creativity.

Based at Puke Ariki, 60 students from 4 schools around Taranaki participated in a variety of interactive, fun workshops which included demonstrations of electric bikes, promoting a sustainable future, inspirational videos and terraquaculture, with presentations from Michael Lawley (EcoInnovation), Kama Burwell (Hive Taranaki) and Nathaniel Benefield (New Plymouth District Council).

Did you take part in these workshops? What did you think? What future workshops would you like to see at Puke Ariki? Leave us a comment.

New exhibitions at Puke Ariki

Calling all art students and teachers! Check out the fantastic variety of art exhibitions currently on show at Puke Ariki. Several of these exhibitions - such as Renegade: Taranaki Independent Art Groups - have a strong Taranaki focus and will appeal to a variety of ages. Check out the full details of what's on here. You'll need to be quick to see Renegade, as it closes this Sunday 14 August.

Have you experienced these exhibitions? What did you think? Leave us a comment.

Get in, boots and all!

Our Term 3 booking requests are rolling in from schools around the district. It's fantastic to see so many different schools keen to take part in our programmes.

Our lesson spaces are filling up quickly, so please contact us if you'd like to bring your class to Puke Ariki this term. Our 'Rucks, Boots and Bulls' lessons have been especially popular - Rugby World Cup Fever is growing!

Check out our current programme here or book online.

Website Resources

Did you know there are education resources and interactives available on the Puke Ariki website?

Visit the Education pages on the Puke Ariki website to learn more. Discover how you can use these resources in your classroom, or integrate these resources into your pre-visit or post-visit planning.

What resources would you like to see on our website? Leave us a comment.

What the...?

We love hearing from Taranaki schools, and we also love quirky questions that really make us think! Last Friday we had an email from Fitzroy School that had both these things in it - how could we go wrong?

A curious student from Room 3 had discovered a mysterious bone in a nearby river, and the rest of the class were perplexed at to what animal the bone belonged to. What's your guess?

Our enthusiastic Environmental Educator Nathan and the Taranaki Research Centre team deduced it was a pelvic bone belonging to a bird called a 'Shag'. Room 3 were happy to hear this and did further investigation about Shag birds and skeletons.

Thanks Room 3 at Fitzroy School - we look forward to your next tricky question!

Familiarise yourself...

We're offering an informal familiarisation tour of Puke Ariki for interested teachers on Tuesday 19 July at 2.00pm. This is a chance to learn more details about the programmes we're offering in Term 3 and 4 and to have a closer look around Puke Ariki.

Hang on a minute, I hear you squeal...that's the school holidays! Exactly! We've deliberately scheduled this during the holidays so teachers can plan their programmes to include a Puke Ariki visit in Term 3 & 4. (We'll be all done by 3pm - promise!).

Meet in the Noel & Melva Yarrow Education Room (formally the Learning Centre), just off the Museum foyer.

Want to know more? Keen to come if there's chocolate biscuits thrown in? Let us know - we'd love to see you!

Tweet, tweet!

We're on Twitter...please follow us for breaking news updates, as they happen!

@Ed_Puke_Ariki

Stranger than...?

Our programme on the fantastically weird and wonderful exhibition Stranger than Fiction finishes next week with the end of Term 3. We've had brilliant feedback from kids, parents and teachers who have loved the opportunities for 'thinking outside the square' that the exhibition provides.

Recently a class of enthusiastic students visited from Manukorihi Intermediate in Waitara. These hats look good enough to be worn to a royal wedding...



Stranger than Fiction closes on Sunday 31 July - don't miss out on this quirky, interactive exhibition. Fun for the whole family...especially during those rainy school holidays!

Hot off the press!

Here's our Educator Keri with our new Term 3 & 4 programme, hot off the press.

These little beauties are sitting in the Puke Ariki mailbag as we speak, waiting to go out to Taranaki primary and seconday schools in today's post. A copy of the programme will also go on the website as soon as possible.

Don't miss out...!

We're gearing up to meet with teachers and principals from around the New Plymouth District this coming Wednesday, for the first meeting of the 2011 Kura Liaison Network meeting. We've had a great response from schools so far, and there's still time for any other interested teachers to join us. It's your chance to meet other teachers from the district while helping the Puke Ariki team develop the best programmes possible for local schools. And did I mention there's a yummy afternoon tea? Contact us if you're keen to be involved - we look forward to meeting you!

Fabulous feedback

We've had some wonderful feedback lately from students, parents and teachers who have visited Puke Ariki for an education lesson. It's great to hear about what you enjoyed during your visit to Puke Ariki.

This week we received two lovely letters from the students of Rooms 1 and 3 at Merrilands School, who visited us for a lesson on Volcanoes.  Thomas from Room 3 sent us a picture of Mount Taranaki and said "this is our favourite volcano. We hope that it doesn't wake up!". So do we, Thomas!

We're busy finalising the exciting education programme for Terms 3 & 4. This little fellow has a starring role...what do you think it could be?

Our Term 3 & 4 programme for Puke Ariki and Aotea Utanganui will be sent to schools in early July, and will be available on the website. Watch this space!

Puke Ariki Kura Liaison Network

We're seeking school representatives to join the Puke Ariki Kura Liaison Network (formally known as the Primary Reference Committee).

The Kura Liaison Network will meet each term (refreshments provided!) and will assist in developing a close network between Puke Ariki and Taranaki schools. It will help us ensure that the service we deliver meets the needs of local schools and the New Zealand Curriculum. 

We're looking for teachers who are passionate educators and leaders, creative and innovative, specialists in their educational area, or language/kura kaupapa teachers.  

Interested? Want to know more? (Did we mention there's afternoon tea?!) Contact us now!

Frankley School visits Puke Ariki

Room 4: Puke Ariki "No Moa:

Check out this fantastic video of Room 4 from Frankley School, New Plymouth, who visited us last week for a lesson called 'No Moa'. The soundtrack is just the thing to get you moving on this cold Monday morning! We love to get feedback on class visits to Puke Ariki - thanks, Frankley School!

It's Stranger than Fiction!

Have you checked out the kooky new exhibition at Puke Ariki?

Opening on Friday 13 May, Stranger than Fiction promises to get you exercising your imagination like never before! Stranger than Fiction features the weird, wacky, and unusual items from our museum collections but asks you, the visitor, to tell us all what these oddities are by writing your own museum labels. You're encouraged to speculate about what the specimens might be, consider where the curiosities came from, or ponder how these peculiar things were used. There's only one rule: the stranger the better!

We're offering a fun, interactive education programme for Year 1-8 pupils to complement Stranger than Fiction, with fantastic feedback received so far from teachers and parents.  Please contact us if you'd like to book your class or visit the Puke Ariki website for more information about the Stranger than Fiction programme.

Check out photos of the exhibition and creative labels here.