Events Blog

Events Programme 2025 - update

6 days ago

Welcome to the events planned for 2025

We hope to see many members and visitors alike join us.

Wanderers’ and Curator’s walks

These walks generally leave from the Bellringer Pavilion (unless advised otherwise) at 10.30am and last approximately 90 minutes.

The monthly Thursday meetings (with a speaker and supper) are held at the Citizens’ Advice Bureau rooms near the YMCA on Liardet Street.

February

12th Committee meeting.

18th Wanderers’ walk.

Eastern hillside and bounds walks.

27th Thursday evening meeting - speaker - David Sampson

David will tell tales of “The Christmas Tree Story”.

March

4th Curator’s Walk.

7th Committee meeting.

18th Wanderers’ walk - Lead - Mark Henderson

Predator Control in the Park.

27th Annual General Meeting.

Historic film footage – the establishment, building of Brooklands Bowl.

April

1st Wanderers’ walk - Derek Hughes.

Derek, talented photographer and artist sees the Park through a different lens to most of us. His skills in showcasing colour, shapes, shadows and light will be shared with us as he focuses on the changing autumn colours, giving valuable photography tips along the way.

11th Committee meeting

15th Wanderers’ walk - The ornamental weeds.

Their presence and their level of pest in the Park. There are over 24,000 introduced plants growing in gardens and nurseries in New Zealand; a rough rule of thumb is that 10% of these will naturalise (establish in the wild), and 10% of these will become serious pests.

24th Thursday evening meeting - speaker - Tony Burrell.

Aotea Great Barrier Island ‘Spectacular by Nature’ Garden Tour

May

6th Wanderers’ walk - Alan Metcalfe.

Local Park historian, member of the Friends and volunteer buggy driver, will lead us on an informative historical walk through the Park.

15th Committee meeting

20th Wanderers’ walk - Lead - Cliff Lawrence.

Cliff will lead us around trees of Gondwanaland.

29th Thursday evening meeting - speakers will be from the NPDC Events team.

They will talk about the planning and logistics of events and future needs, in Brooklands Park particularly.

June

3rd Curator’s walk.

17 Wanderers’ walk.

19th Committee meeting

26th Thursday evening meeting - speakers - Jayne Bright and Barbara Hammonds, from Seed Savers Taranaki

Please note: Speakers and walk leaders are subject to change –Any changes will be notified by email and Facebook.

Monthly Newsletter -January 2025

pukekurafriends

Feb 1

Updated: 6 days ago

Events Programme to June 2025

Welcome to the events planned for 2025

We hope to see many members and visitors alike join us.

Wanderers’ and Curator’s walks

These walks generally leave from the Bellringer Pavilion (unless advised otherwise) at 10.30am and last approximately 90 minutes.

The monthly Thursday meetings (with a speaker and supper) are held at the Citizens’ Advice Bureau rooms near the YMCA on Liardet Street.

February

12th Committee meeting.

18th Wanderers’ walk.

Eastern hillside and bounds walks.

27th Thursday evening meeting - speaker - David Sampson

David will tell tales of “The Christmas Tree Story”.

March

4th Curator’s Walk.

7th Committee meeting.

18th Wanderers’ walk - Lead - Mark Henderson

Predator Control in the Park.

27th Annual General Meeting.

Historic film footage – the establishment, building of Brooklands Bowl.

April

1st Wanderers’ walk - Derek Hughes.

11th Committee meeting

15th Wanderers’ walk - The ornamental weeds.

24th Thursday evening meeting - speaker - Tony Burrell.

Aotea Great Barrier Island ‘Spectacular by Nature’ Garden Tour

May

6th Wanderers’ walk - Alan Metcalfe.

Local Park historian, member of the Friends and volunteer buggy driver, will lead us on an informative historical walk through the Park.

15th Committee meeting

20th Wanderers’ walk - Lead - Cliff Lawrence.

Cliff will lead us around trees of Gondwanaland.

29th Thursday evening meeting - speakers will be from the NPDC Events team.

They will talk about the planning and logistics of events and future needs, in Brooklands Park particularly.

June

3rd Curator’s walk.

17 Wanderers’ walk.

19th Committee meeting

26th Thursday evening meeting - speakers - Jayne Bright and Barbara Hammonds, from Seed Savers Taranaki

Please note: Speakers and walk leaders are subject to change –Any changes will be notified by email and Facebook.

Review of January's Events

23 January - Gables Picnic with NP Arts Society

It was a sunny breezy afternoon which became a quiet, still sunny evening, and around 60 of us gathered with friends and picnic in the Gables gardens.

This is our way of starting the new year, and I think this picnic was the most enjoyable we have had.Thanks to the committee helpers who arranged and collected tables, arranged flowers, music.

Second Solution provided good easy listening music – guitars and vocals, with some of their original music included. They set the scene and the background music added to the relaxed atmosphere. I did notice a few people singing along towards the end!

Despite the dry, the gardens were looking stunning, as was the art work inside which we were able to view throughout the evening.

Thanks everyone for coming – see you in 2026!

Sue Matehaere Patten

From the Zoo

By Melissa Turner – Keeper Brooklands Zoo

2024 was a whirlwind of a year. After four years of volunteering and one summer student position in 2023, I finally felt ready to take the next step and enrol in the zookeeping course at Unitec.

The New Zealand Certificate in Captive Animal Management (Zookeeping) is a fulltime year-long course which combines online lectures from experts in the field, 280 hours of zookeeping work experience at an approved zoo, and three block courses in Auckland with field trips to Auckland Zoo!

Gratefully, I was accepted to Brooklands Zoo in my hometown for my work experience.

I learnt so much this past year – more than I could have ever imagined. Besides feeding and cleaning up after animals, I also learnt the importance of health and safety not only for us as zookeepers but also for the animals and visitors too.

Animal welfare was a recurring topic throughout the year, and I came away with a wealth of knowledge on how much work goes into ensuring optimal animal welfare in zoos.

Besides practical skills, I also learnt a lot about conservation and the crucial role zoos play in it. I have made some changes to live more sustainably myself and am excited to be a part of the change I wish to see in my future career.

I also gained some priceless memories like watching Tomato the sheep give birth to Feta, and watching Mani the capuchin carry her baby around on her back.

I could not have accomplished what I did this year without the support of Brooklands Zoo. I have gained some lifelong friends through the course and learnt things I will carry throughout my career. The keepers’ expertise and ongoing support has helped make my dreams come true.

Zookeeping student Melissa undergoing her practical end of year assessment.

Friends of Pukekura Park Membership Application Form

To apply for membership, either click on the link to our website page or download a pdf application form

Go to website page

Our mailing address is:

Friends of Pukekura Park

PO BOX 484

New Plymouth, Taranaki 4340

New Zealand

Monthly Newsletter -Dec 2024

pukekurafriends

Dec 30, 2024

Events Programme - January 2025

Thursday - 23rd January 2025- Friends of the Park Picnic.

Meet at the Gables at 5:30

Traditional Gables Garden picnic, held in conjunction with the NP Arts Society.

The format will be a little different in 2025 – still casual, fun and hopefully sunny. The picnic will start any time from 5:30pm, bring chairs, a rug, table – whatever suits. Please remember this is open to all - friends and family are most welcome. As usual, it is an opportune time to visit the gallery and appreciate the crafts of some of our finest artists.

Lilium "Fusion" - The Fernery

Review of December's Events

3rd December- Wanderers’ walk.

Lead Tony Burrell

A dozen people enjoyed a leisurely walk led by Tony Burrell. We went from the Bellringer Pavilion past Fountain Lake, through Palm Lawn and the Children’s Playground, up through the Japanese Hillside, behind the old curator’s house, and through the Victoria Road Arboretum.

On Smith Walk by Fountain Lake Tony talked about different varieties of Pseudopanax, and showed us a Pseudopanax crassifolius × lessonii, a hybrid between crassifolius and lessonii. Close by he also showed us a Bamboo orchid, Earina mucronata. This orchid is endemic to NZ.

At the Victoria Road Car Park, we saw Pseudopanax lessonii 'Gold Finger' and Pseudopanax ferox. Other trees in the car park included:

Mountain roses, Metrosideros nervulosa (endemic to Lord Howe island) which were planted in 1996, when the car park was constructed. These are related to Pohutukawa but grow more slowly and only get to the height of a small tree.

Northern rata, Metrosideros robusa, planted in 2015. This was grown from material of a terrestrial form of blue rata found inland from Okato.

Three King’s cabbage tree, Cordyline obtecta ‘Green Goddess’. In New Zealand it was first described as C. kaspar and was originally thought to be restricted to the Three Kings Islands but later found in Northland and some other New Zealand islands.

On leaving the car park we entered the Victoria Road Arboretum. This was first planted in 1954 -1955 as a shelter belt after the tennis club was moved to Kura St. Here Tony showed us a 1984 border planting of New Zealand flowering tree daisies. (including varieties of Olearia, Senecio and Brachyglottis) and Hebes.

Whilst walking through the Victoria Road arboretum we also came across an Elaeocarpus reticulatu, blueberry ash. This eastern Australian tree has pretty white flowers that resemble fringed lampshades and blue oval to spherical shaped fruit, hence the name blueberry ash.

We also saw two macadamia trees, Macadamia tetraphylla and Macadamia ternifolia. While the fruit of the tetraphylla is edible, the fruit of the ternifolia (most northerly of the two trees) is bitter and toxic to humans. Macadamia are also native to the east coast of Australia.

Many thanks to Tony for an interesting walk.

23rd December - Lights Tour

Lead - Brianna Dolan

Showers were occurring up to the start of our walk so umbrellas were the order of the day. As if on cue, the showers stopped right before start time. A good turnout of 20 friends listened to our Festival of Lights co-ordination team member Brianna Dolan present some background about the FOL and logistics involved this year. We then visited all the light installations with Brianna giving good background on each. There were good questions and answers throughout. Some of our members had already visited during the evening with the lights on and Paul showed some of the installations recorded on his phone during their night phase. This clearly showed the difference between night and day. Interestingly many of the installations were very striking in the daytime and the quality of the design and materials used could be better appreciated during the daytime visit.

Below is a brief description of the various light installations.

1. Bloom (Car Park)

Lighting Design by Harris Keenan and Angus Muir (Aotearoa/New Zealand)

Sound Design by Arun Strickland (Aotearoa/New Zealand)

Bloom features four larger-than-life vases, holding an abundant display of stylised neon flowers in a variety of vibrant shapes and sizes.

2. Echoing Reeds (Fountain Lake)

Lighting Design by Angus Muir (Aotearoa/New Zealand)

Sound Design by Peter Hobbs (Aotearoa/New Zealand)

Echoing Reeds is an exploration of the intersection between nature and technology. The interplay of light and reflection creates an immersive environment where visual and auditory stimuli harmonise. The reflections on the water’s surface mirror the ever-changing hues of the light tubes.

3. Strata (Smith Walk)

Lighting Design by Vesica and Tungsten Projects (Aotearoa/New Zealand)

Sound Design by Tom Pierard (Aotearoa/New Zealand)

Hanging ghost-like amongst a canopy of trees, Strata is a bold expression of colour and material. UV light filters through translucent planes of gauze, creating an ethereal space of contemplation, reflection and wonder.

4. Cascade (Palm Lawn)

Lighting Design by Simon Holden and Angus Muir (Aotearoa/New Zealand)

Sound Design by Peter Hobbs (Aotearoa/New Zealand)

Cascade is a symphony of light and sound, embodied in three sculptures that echo the graceful arcs of a fountain. Emerging from a central point, these sculptures extend outward, evoking a sense of fluidity and movement frozen in time.

5. Affinity (Children’s Playground)

Lighting Design by Amigo and Amigo (Australia)

Affinity is an immersive interactive light and sound installation inspired by the human brain. Each light globe represents a neuron and connection in the brain. When people touch the light globe, the colour changes. The more people who interact, the further their light travels throughout the sculpture.

6. Gondwana Glade (Sunken Dell)

Lighting Design by Angus Muir and Cat Ellis (Aotearoa/New Zealand)

Sound Design by Peter Hobbs (Aotearoa/New Zealand)

Nestled in a sunken dell, this lush paradise features a winding creek and vibrant foliage, all set against a captivating soundscape that echoes the whispers of ancient nature. Delicate light effects mimic fireflies and distant storms, creating a magical atmosphere. The experience culminates in a stunning laser show that electrifies the clearing, synchronised with primal sounds that transport you to a time long past.

7. Revolve (Band Rotunda)

Lighting Design by Angus Muir and Simon Holden (Aotearoa/New Zealand)

Revolve is an immersive instrument, inviting viewers into a dynamic show of light, sound and motion. As the lights dance and the soundscapes evolve in response to human touch, Revolve transcends its physical form, becoming a living canvas.

8. Descend (Waterfall)

Lighting Design by Tungsten Projects (Aotearoa/New Zealand)

Sound Design by Reuben Jelleyman (Aotearoa/New Zealand)

Descend fuses the elements of water, sound and light to transport audiences to a serene experience. Experience the ever-evolving collision and unity of these ethereal elements.

9. Forbidden Dell (Manhattan Island)

Lighting Design by Angus Muir and Cat Ellis (Aotearoa/New Zealand)

Sound Design by Reuben Jelleyman (Aotearoa/New Zealand)

Forbidden Dell is a multi-sensory experience that uses light to draw you deeper into the darkness of the forest. It resembles a corridor, carved out by lights and guarded by ancient towering trees that sing in haunting harmonies that resonate throughout your body and mind.

10. Boogie Wonderland (Boat Shed Lawn)

Lighting Design by Toulouse Group (Aotearoa/New Zealand)

Get your groove on as the Boat Shed Lawn is transformed into a ’70s nightclub of disco sounds and colour under a canopy of mirror balls.

11. Pop (Serpentine)

Lighting Design by Angus Muir(Aotearoa/New Zealand)

Sound Design by Reuben Jelleyman (Aotearoa/New Zealand)

Pop is a is a celebration of the ephemeral beauty found in the convergence of art and nature. It invites viewers to pause, immerse themselves in the present moment, and discover the hidden rhythms that connect us to the universe.

12. Obelisk Natura (Rhododendron Dell)

Lighting Design by Vesica and Tungsten Projects (Aotearoa/New Zealand)

Sound Design by Tom Pierard (Aotearoa/New Zealand)

Six distinct totems, each a sonic and visual embodiment of a natural element, converge to create a harmonious soundscape.

13. Rose Garden (Rhododendron Dell)

Lighting Design by Mandylights (Australia)

Rose Garden is a sprawling installation of up to 2,500 hand-made, individually colour-changing roses that are designed to progress through a series of dramatic animated states. Each rose features life-like leaves, a stalk and a beautiful silk head which is stunning to admire even during the daytime. As darkness falls, each rose bursts into life with dazzling colour.

From the Zoo

Renee Downing – Senior Keeper

Marcella, our scheltopusik (shell-toe-poo-sick), has been asleep since April and has woken up to a surprise: a newly landscaped habitat!

Also known as a legless lizard or European glass lizard, Marcella has been in brumation (hibernation for reptiles) since April. When the temperatures start to cool for winter, Marcella’s body begins to slow down. Being a cold-blooded reptile, bodily functions like digestion and energy production require an outside heat source like the sun or a heat lamp to provide warmth for her body to process these. As the temperatures start to drop for winter and the daylight hours shorten, Marcella’s body begins to slow down and we decrease the amount of food we feed Marcella, as her body is too cold to digest food over winter.

She finds a spot to bury herself within her habitat, where she will slumber for the coming months. During this time Marcella does not, eat drink or defecate, and may not move for several weeks at a time.

This year we were required to carry out some habitat maintenance whilst she was in brumation. She was taken to a habitat behind the scenes whilst this maintenance was carried out.

We also took the opportunity to improve her habitat whilst she was asleep. We have provided Marcella with some new substrate, such as grass, stones and leaves, as well as many areas for her to dig and bury herself. We supplied some new branches which we hope will encourage her climbing ability, and she even has a small hill in her habitat which she can adventure over.

Marcella started to wake up from her brumation at the end of September, and for the first few weeks we have let her slowly wake up, only introducing a small amount of food once she had been awake for two weeks so that her digestive system didn’t get overwhelmed.

Once awake, she was weighed and, impressively, she had only lost 7g over the five months she was asleep. Her length was also measured and she had grown 3cm over that time - measuring in at 106cm!