Massive Pukaha-Mt Bruce redevelopment launched

The colours, sights and sounds of an ancient forest, inhabited by huia and moa, have been recreated indoors as part of a $1.4 million redevelopment at Pukaha Mount Bruce, the National Wildlife Centre.
Stories of the wildlife, forest and activities of the centre are now being told as never before through new state-of-the-art, digital technology and interactive displays. The centre's entrance, foyer, meeting room, and shop have been extensively refurbished.
Computer-generated, moving images of birds that early settlers would have encountered when the forest was first noisy with birdlife will give visitors a sense of what New Zealand used to be like. Stories of iwi Rangitaane o Wairarapa also feature strongly.
Visitors will be able to discover the efforts being made to protect and restore the forest to which kaka, kiwi and kokako (a relative of the extinct huia) have been returned.
Children can experience what the forest is like at night through a virtual nocturnal encounter in a massive rata tree, modelled on a tree from the Pukaha forest. The log contains digital creepy crawlies which "come to life" when illuminated by a torch operated by children.
Pukaha Mount Bruce Board chairman Bob Francis said the $1.4 million upgrade has added "huge value" to the visitor experience at Pukaha and was expected to increase in visitor numbers by at least 10 per cent to more than 40,000 per year.
"This is an exciting project which will have positive spin-offs for regional tourism as well as providing a world-class facility for locals to visit," Mr Francis said.
"The new interactive area really is a stunning new addition to the centre."
The interactive exhibits have been created by Lumen Digital, which has worked on some of New Zealand's leading visitor attractions.
The redevelopment has been led by the Pukaha Mount Bruce Board which has received funding from community trusts and philanthropic organisations.
Trust House Charitable Trust was the major funder of visitor centre upgrade contributing $400,000. The Lion Foundation, Eastern and Central Community Trust, NZ Community Trust, Central Energy Trust and a range of other organisations have contributed.
An easily-accessible, two-hour return walking track with lookout through the forest was completed several months ago.
Mr Francis said the track further enhances the visitor experience by giving people the chance to get among the native forest and see the birds in their natural environment.
Outdoor attractions at Pukaha include the nocturnal kiwi house, tuatara, takahe, daily giant eel and kaka feeding, guided tours by DOC rangers, and the viewing of native birds in aviaries and the native forest.
The project is stage one of a two-stage planned upgrade of facilities at Pukaha Mount Bruce.
Mr Francis said the second stage would involve improving the outdoor experience, upgrading the aviaries and captive breeding facilities, and extensions to kitchen, cafe and classroom space.