Kid’s Matariki Discovery Night Walk

Discover the moon, stars, beach and bush all in one night with our special Kid’s Matariki Discovery Night Walk!

Rug up nice and warm as we will be starting this magical night at the beach, where we will learn about Matariki under the watchful eye of the moon and stars, followed by a torchlight book reading of ‘The Little Kiwi Matariki’s’ read out by the book’s author herself Nikki Slade-Robinson!

We will then venture into the bush across the road at the Fairbrother Loop track to discover a new world of sights and sounds!
- Listen for kiwi, ruru and weka.
- Check out the spiders and huge cave wētā
- Hunt for kiwi footprints
- Learn about the work of the Whakatāne Kiwi Trust and what our amazing volunteers are doing to protect kiwi and native taonga (treasures!)

Each child will also receive a signed print from the Little Kiwi Matariki’s book with their ticket purchase!

Please be aware that it is very unlikely that you will see a wild kiwi on this walk - they tend to run a mile when they hear a dozen humans coming down the track!

Age guide: 5 to 8 years. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Please bring a drink bottle and snacks. Please wear warm clothing, a raincoat (if appropriate), and sturdy, closed-in shoes (no jandals!). Whilst the Trust team will have first aid kits, please bring any personal medication you may require (e.g. asthma inhalers). Finally, don’t forget to wear warm clothing and footwear (e.g. NOT sandals or jandals) and bring a torch, some snacks, a drink and a camera!

Directions: Please meet at the Mair Street Carpark, next to the Ōhope Surf life saving club. Look out for the kiwi trust flag and kiwi truck!

Cancellation Policy:
Due to limited ticket numbers, we request all cancellations be made at least 48 hours before the scheduled walk. This gives us the opportunity to fill your space with another member of the public.
Cancellations made within 48 hours or more will be processed with a full refund. Failure to notify via email, text or phone within the 48 hour time period will mean a forfeit of the full amount of the ticket(s) purchased.
In the event of poor weather or unforeseen circumstances, the Whakatāne Kiwi Trust reserves the right to cancel a walk. This will be notified by a phone call to those people who have booked on the walk.

Due to the ongoing uncertainty around COVID-19, the Whakatāne Kiwi Trust must ensure all individuals are aware of their responsibilities for the duration of the walk to ensure we stick within the government guidelines surrounding COVID-19.
Our first priority is the health, safety and wellbeing of our visitors and guides. As such we kindly ask that everybody adheres to our hygiene guidelines. As a public venue we must comply with conditions on gathering and undertake appropriate health measures, this means:
- Maintaining a register of all visitors attending the walk
- Minimise the risk of transmission of COVID-19 through a good standard of general hygiene that includes:
- Using hand sanitiser
- Cleaning of all equipment after use
- Sneeze and cough into your elbow
- Distancing yourself from others as necessary
- If you are sick, stay home

If you have any questions regarding the above please contact the Whakatāne Kiwi Trust:
volunteer@whakatanekiwi.org.nz

Thanks, we look forward to meeting you all
The Night Walks Team

Photo credit: Neil Hutton and Brennan Thomas