On 12 February, whānau and the Arahura Kōhanga and one of our local schools, Kaniere Primary welcomed the Department of Conservation and five whio (blue ducks) to our marae for a talk about these beautiful manu.

Everyone gathered in the boardroom quietly to listen to their beautiful call and we were also fortunate enough to each pat a whio.

After the kids got to have a pat and a talk, Hamiria and myself got to go in a helicopter to release them up the Arahura river at the mud flats. It was an awesome experience to release them on our awa and to watch them finally hit our waters after we opened the boxes to let them out.

I can’t wait until we have another opportunity to do it again.

Nelly Mason and Hamiria Hutana during the whio release.

Nelly Mason and Hamiria Hutana at the whio release.

Tamariki patting the whio.

Tamariki patting the whio.

Everybody was happy to see the whio.

Everybody was happy to see the whio.

Tihou Weepu giving a kōrero during the whio marae visit.

Tihou Weepu giving a kōrero during the whio marae visit.