Join the Ruru Revolution!

Join the Ruru Revolution...and take over the museum!

This is your chance to make your mark in Puke Ariki. On Saturday 14 April we're running a special event, where you can create your own labels for items in the museum collection. What stories do you have to tell about the items in the museum? What memories or ideas do they evoke? This is your chance to tell the world!

It's simple...grab a Ruru post-it, write your own personalised label, stick it up for all to see and collect a gold Ruru badge. There will also be music, mask making, scavenger hunts, spot prizes and more!

Join us for this fun family event on Saturday 14 April from 11.00am-2.00pm in the Puke Ariki foyer. Be part of the revolution!

Term 2 programmes

It's hard to believe it's the nearly the end of term one already! We have two exciting new programmes available at Puke Ariki in Term 2: Wild Foods and Puke Ariki Pā.

In Wild Foods, students will discover a world without supermarkets and become a great food gatherer. They'll learn about the variety of natural food sources on land and water and develop an appreciation of the customs around gathering wild food.  Wild Foods compliments our very popular Tools and Traps programme.

Puke Ariki Pā will make you see the land that Puke Ariki sits on in a whole new light. The art of storytelling will make students aware of the significance of awa and moana in this area, while learning the origins of local Māori names and their connections to tangata whenua. If you've visited us for Model Pā you'll appreciate the links with this new programme.

Both programmes are adaptable for any year level. Please contact us for more information, or book your visit online today. We'd love to see you!

Researching Taranaki Identities

We've enjoyed recently working with students from Mangorei School on a Specially Tailored programme about 'Significant Taranaki Identities'.

Students discover the variety of research resources in the Taranaki Research Centre

The students were museum detectives, solving a series of clues that led through the museum galleries and exhibitions in search of photographs, objects and information about significant Taranaki identities such as Truby King, Chew Chong and Maui Pomare. The following week the classes returned to the Taranaki Research Centre, where students put their research and inquiry learning skills to work to discover information about their chosen Taranaki identity. 

See our earlier post about the fantastic 'Boostergrams' that Mangorei School sent after their visit.

Would your students enjoy a similar programme during your next visit to Puke Ariki? Contact us for more information.

Maui dolphin sightings

Did you visit us last year for our Save Our Species programme, which focused on the endangered Maui Dolphin? If so, you'll be interested in this video and news item featuring four Maui Dolphins swimming off the bow of a boat off the Waikato Coast. It's amazing to see these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat!