Conservation Week - 'Big Back Yard' Programme.
This is the programme and schedule with the information at hand.
Please revisit this page up to and during
conservation week for additions and updates.
ACTIVITIES EVERY DAY - MONDAY 7th to 13th AUGUST.
Opens – The Minister of the Environment to open 'the big backyard'.
Windy Sculpture Competition Entries on view in the Colonial Courtyard.
Come and see the wonderful wind sculptures that schools have made for our kinetic wind sculptures competition. Sponsored by Meridian and judged by the Wellington Wind Sculpture Trust.
Birds Exhibition. Birds is an enchanting exhibition at PATAKA offering a sense of the species' fragility whilst flaunting their charm. This exhibition depicts the delicate balance between our world and theirs. It illustrates their spiritual significance to Maori and reveals a snapshot of their fleeting presence. Some of our greatest contemporary artists, including Laurence Aberhart, John Bevan Ford, Don Binney, Shane Cotton, Paul Dibble, Fred Graham, Kowhai Grace, Bill Hammond, Tony de Lautour, Colin McCahon, Fiona Pardington, Michael Parekowhai, Peter Peryer, Jeff Thomson, John Walsh, Robin White, have engaged with the theme of bird life in Aotearoa. You may never see our 'feathered friends' in quite the same light...ever again.
Global Eye Art Exhibition Competition.
A variety of artists of different ethnicities throughout the Wellington Region will present an art piece. The art work is to convey their thoughts and feelings on conservation and the environment in an alternative form, thus weaving together art and science. The winning artist will spend a week on Mana Island. View this stunning exhibition and you can vote for your favourite artist.
Conservation Exhibitors throughout the spine.
Exhibitors include Meridian Energy, Department of Conservation (DOC), Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority (EECA), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) – Bio Security, The Royal Forest and Birds Society, and the Greater Wellington Regional Council.
Junior Library Activities.
INSTALLATION
Large albatross mobile with wings which move in a breeze.
CHILDREN'S COMPETITIONS
HABITAT TABLE
Children can create their own habitat with flora and fauna.
TREASURE HUNT
Follow the map and find the wind turbine propeller hidden around the library. Small prizes for all entrants.
WORM BIN
In working order complete with composting worms to be demonstrated from time to time.
PAN FLUTES
Make your own pan flutes.
WHITBY BRANCH LIBRARY Whitby Branch Library will be hosting a display by the Guardians of the Pauatahanui Inlet and the Pauatahanui Inlet Community Trust. Depicting photos and information about the different aspects of their involvement with the Pauatahanui Inlet and Wetlands. For more information please contact Whitby Library Ph. (04) 234 8666
FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMMES:
TUESDAY 8 AUGUST,
11.00am LIBRARY ACTIVITY
registration not required
Making windchimes from recycled materials.
WEDNESDAY 9 AUGUST,
10.15am JUNIOR LIBRARY ACTIVITY - STORYTIME
registration not required
with art making activity around the theme of birds or wind.
THURSDAY 10 AUGUST,
11.00am LIBRARY ACTIVITY
registration not required
5.30pm TRASH PALACE – A SUCCESS STORY!! Click here to register for this event or call 04 237 5089
Trash Palace - Learn more about recycling through the operations at Trash Palace. Find out about our free inorganic collections offered to all Porirua residents - one of the only ones of it's type in the country. Discover the background and philosophy of Mana Community Enterprises Inc - who run Trash Palace. Presenter: Sonia Moore, Project Manager, Mana Community Enterprises
6.30pm MAKING YOUR HOME SUSTAINABLE - Porirua Library
registration not required
This will cover both retro fitting and building new homes and will include energy, water and waste. Presenter: Lynda Amitrano BRANZ Manager Built Environment.
7.00pm SUSTAINABILITY ENERGY FORUM Click here to register for this event or call 04 237 5089
Have you ever asked yourself: Where our electricity comes from at present? Why is electricity demand increasing? Why are electricity supplies becoming constrained? What are our options for the future? What do sustainable energy and renewable energy mean? What can I do to help? Then come along to the SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FORUM. Shaun Cornelius form Meridian Energy will give an easily understandable overview of these issues, and there will be ample opportunity for your own questions. Presenter: Sean Cornelius, Wind Project Development Manager, Meridian Energy
FRIDAY 11 August
10.15am JUNIOR LIBRARY ACTIVITY - STORYTIME
registration not required
Bird and wind themes.
5.30pm COMPOSTING HEAVEN AND THOSE BAD WEEDS IN THE GARDEN!
Click here to register for this event or call 04 237 5089
Palmers Garden World will get you skilled up on everything you need to know about composting. Have you got a dry garden? Well, Richard at Palmers will sort that out too with info on planting for dry conditions. Richard will also be talking about the nasty weeds in your garden and giving some Native Plant alternatives – this session is a must for those gardeners out there! Presenter: Richard, Proprietor, Palmers Garden World, Plimmerton.
6.30pm CONSERVATION - A PACIFIC PERSPECTIVE
Symposium on Pacific Perspectives of Conservation. This discussion will cover Pacific perspectives on conservation issues and the ways in which different Pacific communities interpret and practice conservation within their cultures. Some of the issues to be looked at include: What does conservation mean for Pacific people? How does conservation contribute to our wellbeing? Ways in which Pacific communities in Porirua can become involved in conservation programmes. People from Pacific nations will be giving their perspectives on these and other issues relating to conservation. Come along a participate in an evening of story-telling and discussion where we welcome and value your thoughts and contributions.
SATURDAY 12 AUGUST
10.30am KIWI CONSERVATION CLUB Click here to register for this event or call 04 237 5089
Stan Hunt from the Kiwi Conservation Club, will be making beautiful kowhaiwhai designs out of recycled wood. Create your pattern using koru's and then you will get to paint and decorate these forms. Great fun, recycling, painting and learning about kowhaiwhai patterns, kids check this one out!
10.30am CHECK OUT YOUR OWN BACKYARD Click here to register for this event or call 04 237 5089
James Griffiths from Forest & Bird will be giving a presentation on some local community based conservation projects. This will be a great one to check out so you can be informed on the fantastic and exciting work happening in your area. This is Conservation Week celebrated locally! Presenter: James Griffiths, Lower North Island Field Officer, Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society.
10.30am PORIRUA LIBRARY: HARAKEKE WEAVING
registration not required
Harakeke Flax weaving demonstration.
12 noon SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE "Our land Our design" Click here to register for this event or call 04 237 5089
Ross will be talking about "local communities being able to design their own unique wind turbines using mass production technologies. Ross Stevens, Dip ID, Senior Lecturer, Victoria University of Wellington.
1.30pm SUSTAINABILITY ENERGY FORUM Click here to register for this event or call 04 237 5089
Have you ever asked yourself: Where our electricity comes from at present? Why is electricity demand increasing? Why are electricity supplies becoming constrained? What are our options for the future? What do sustainable energy and renewable energy mean? What can I do to help? Then come along to the SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FORUM. Shaun Cornelius form Meridian Energy will give an easily understandable overview of these issues, and there will be ample opportunity for your own questions. Presenter: Sean Cornelius, Wind Project Development Manager, Meridian Energy
1.30pm PORIRUA LIBRARY: STORY TELLERS - SOUL FOOD TELLERS.
registration not required
Tony Hopkins & Moira Wairama, Winners of the Spoken Word Award, Wellington Fringe 2000 & 2001, provide a feast of Maori and conservation story's all ages will enjoy.
2.30pm PORIRUA LIBRARY; ECO ARCHITECTURE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
registration not required
What's happening in relation to new homes and building additions or alterations Worldwide and in New Zealand. Developing your design brief using pattern language. Active and Passive solar energy design. Wayer Collection and Grey water reuse. Presenter: Alexander Greig, Architect, Building Biology and Ecology Institute.
3.00pm AVIAN INFLUENZA Click here to register for this event or call 04 237 5089
Is Avian Influenza a threat to New Zealand? How far has it spread? How can it get here? Who is doing what to keep it out? What plans are in place if it does get here – to protect the public and our native birds? How will this affect the New Zealand culture and way of life? All these questions and more will be answered by our panel of experts at this forum. Presenters: The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries – Bio Security :Kate McInnes, Ministry of Conservation, Andrea Vause, Public Health Nurse, Ministry of Health.
SUNDAY 13 AUGUST
10.30am GREENBUILDING AND PERMACULTURE
Click here to register for this event or call 04 237 5089
Richard Morrison – Greenbuilding Sunday 10.30am
Richard Morrison will give a brief introduction into earth as a building material in house construction. This presentation will be looking at the different types of earth building techniques and some of the design features that need to be considered.
Find out some further information and make contact with other people interested in Earth Building by checking out the website www.Earthbuilding.org.nz and sign up to receive the monthly email newsletter.
A holistic model for sustainable living. Gain an understanding of the Permaculture model as developed by David Holmgren (co-originator of Permaculture). This discussion is designed to offer a taster of how Permaculture works and why it is a viable model for a sustainable future.
Click to this website link for the Earth Building Association of New Zealand website; www.earthbuilding.org.nz
12 noon BO WANG – CHINESE PEACOCK DANCE
registration not required
Recently arrived in New Zealand, Bo Wang will take you on a journey through the Birds exhibition we have on at Pataka. She will interpret the birds viewed in the artworks with movement and dance. This will be beautiful and mesmerising!
1.30pm BIRD CALLS registration not required
Ok, we know you all can whistle and impersonate your favourite fantail or kiwi!! Come and check out a professional from the Department of Conservation. Stacey Moore from the Department of Conservation has 10 or more bird sounds to share with you! Stacey will be making her bird calls in the wonderful setting of the Birds exhibition on at Pataka. Presenter: Stacey Moore, Department of Conservation
2.00pm THE ALBATROSS Click here to register for this event or call 04 237 5089
Stacey Moore will tell us about the stunning work the Department of Conservation has been doing with the mighty Toroa or Albratross. This will be a fascinating presentation about this very amazing and sadly endangered bird. Don’t miss this one!! Presenter: Stacy Moore, Department of Conservation
2.30pm CURATORS TOUR registration not required
Helen Kedgley, Pataka’s contemporary art curator will take you on a tour of her amazing Birds exhibition on show at Pataka. Helen has an wonderful knowledge of the work on show and this is a great opportunity for you to find out more about the stunning artworks on display. Margaret Tolland our Education coordinator will be accompanying Helen on this tour so children can have an alternative tour with her. Presenter: Helen Kedgley, Arts Curator, Pataka
3pm CLOSING CEREMONY
Come and celebrate with us – what a great week it has been with our very first BIG BACKYARD – CONSERVATION WEEK AT PATAKA!
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