Multi-million dollar development gets green light

Rotorua, 29 April 2011 - One of New Zealand's favourite tourist attractions, Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park in Rotorua, is about to embark on a multi-million dollar project that will change the face of the park.

Work is due to begin within the next month on 'Project Big Splash', a high-tech water ride flowing through the ecological evolution of New Zealand.

Stewart Brown, Rainbow Springs Project Director says, "It will be a unique attraction unlike any on offer in New Zealand. The ride will be highly interactive and will both inform and excite park visitors."

The $10 million-plus project also includes construction of an outdoor 400-seat, free-flight bird show auditorium, an interactive children's playground and a new reptile enclosure. Due to open early 2012 the development is the largest single investment made in the park since it opened in 1932.

"The new Rainbow Springs will appeal to a broader audience and be more fun. However, our fundamental values of conservation and sustainability absolutely remain at the core of everything we do," Mr Brown says.

John Thorburn, Ngai Tahu Tourism Chief Executive, owners of Rainbow Springs says, "It's not only great news for Rainbow Springs, but also the whole of Rotorua as a tourist destination. The development will heighten both domestic and international interest in the region as a place to visit.

"While the tourism market is ever changing and presents continual challenges, Ngai Tahu Tourism is investing for the long term. As one of the integral hearts of New Zealand tourism, with its strong culture and New Zealand history, Rotorua is a key focus for us."





Until the new look Rainbow Springs opens it's ‘business as usual’ at the park. In preparation for the development some changes have already taken place, with the popular ‘Kiwi Encounter’ Kiwi hatchery and nursery now being included as part of the Rainbow Springs entry price.

Visitors now have an opportunity to contribute to Kiwi conservation and observe the 'save the Kiwi project' first hand through an intimate guided tour into the incubation, hatch and brooder rooms.

“During the Kiwi season, visitors may see the beginnings of a Kiwi hatch and baby Kiwi chicks on display, a truly unique New Zealand experience," Mr Brown says.

The Kiwi viewing will soon be complemented by the addition of another New Zealand endangered species, the 11 baby tuatara born at the park over the last couple of weeks. They are expected to move to a public viewing enclosure in about 6 months.

Rainbow Springs Kiwi Wildlife Park is an icon of New Zealand tourism and has been open since 1932. Spread over 22 acres of Rotorua parkland, Rainbow Springs is a conservation and breeding haven for endangered New Zealand species such as Kiwi and tuatara. The park offers a unique wildlife experience for visitors, who can see animals in their natural environment, both during the day and night. Features of the award winning tourist attraction include New Zealand's only 'open to view' Kiwi hatchery, and a range of wildlife including trout, tuatara and native birds.

London: Athenaeum Easter Special

This Easter dedicated nannies at London’s Athenaeum will host an Easter egg hunt in Green Park followed by a ‘Children’s High Tea’ in the Hotel’s specially-themed Playroom. In the evening the nannies will be at hand and available to book for complimentary babysitting.*

Guests staying at The Athenaeum over the Easter weekend are invited to participate in an Easter egg hunt which will be led by the team of resident nannies and the Kid’s Concierge. Hidden prizes for all the family to enjoy are up for grabs including afternoon tea vouchers and pampering beauty treatments in the newly re-opened spa for mothers and daughters.

Once back at the hotel the splendid ‘Easter Bunnies Playroom’ will be open and a complimentary high tea will be served. Hot cross buns, homemade bite size sponge cakes and chocolate cupcakes topped with mini eggs are on the menu, along with other Easter treats.

Nannies can be pre-booked for up to four hours of free babysitting, so that adults and children alike can enjoy their stay in ‘Their London Home’ in the heart of the capital.

At the end of the day guests will find a beautiful bespoke Easter egg made by Rococo chocolates will have been for them as a gift from the Athenaeum.

Over the Easter period the Athenaeum has family apartments available starting from £350 + VAT. Each family will receive up to four hours of complimentary babysitting –bookings 48hours in advance. WWW.ATHENAEUMHOTEL.COM 116 Piccadilly, London W1J 7BJ

Read the riddlesand solve the mystery at MOTAT

Get the whole family along to MOTAT for an exciting new adventure at the new ‘MOTAT Mystery Weekend Experience’.

Kids can be a real Sherlock Holmes for the day and follow the clues from their map to solve each MOTAT mystery. They’ll need to read the rhyming riddles on their map carefully and take in every hint to uncover four MOTAT artefacts from the 1950’s.

Bridgette Robinson, Events Coordinator at MOTAT, said this unique exhibition is sure to challenge kids and encourage them to think outside the box.

“Each riddle is designed to engage children and get them thinking about the history and significance of these four 1950’s artefacts. They’ll learn heaps about what Kiwi life was like in the 1950’s while having fun with friends and family,” said Ms Robinson.

By the end of their thrilling ‘Weekend Experience’ at MOTAT, kids will be well-informed about some of New Zealand’s most iconic artefacts and eager to learn more about this country’s rich history.

But for now, to get them thinking, here are two clues to ponder: One relic was a much-loved form of transportation that was the last of its fleet, and another was owned by a famous Kiwi star. Visit MOTAT to be let in on the rest of the clues and crack the mystery.

Kids can stamp their map and hand it in once they have solved the four MOTAT mysteries and their team could be in to win a reward for their careful investigating in the monthly prize draw.

Dates: Now until 3 January 2011

Location: MOTAT - Great North Road and Meola Road Western Springs, Auckland.

Costs

You can enjoy MOTAT’s ‘Mystery Weekend Experience’ as part of your entry fee to MOTAT. You can also enjoy the rest of the museum, free tram rides and entry to the Tactile Dome and Voyager1 for one great price.

Entry Fee:
Family (2 adults and up to 4 children) $35
Adults $14
Children (under 16) $8
Students $8
Senior Citizens $7
Children under 5 years are free

MOTAT Mates (annual pass) - $65 for a family (entitles you to unlimited visits to MOTAT)

Auckland Airport opens a new parents room and a new kids corner

Travelling with kids isn’t always easy, but Auckland Airport is doing its best to make what can be a difficult experience a whole lot more enjoyable.

A brand new parents’ room has now opened airside in the international terminal. The space is a dedicated place where parents can go to get away from the crowds, change nappies or feed their offspring. The room is equipped with feeding cubicles, changing tables and a microwave to heat baby food and bottles. There is also a new fully enclosed play area that is sure to keep energetic toddlers entertained – and tire them out – while you wait for your flight.

Parents can also head to the Kids Corner - Auckland Airport’s fantastic new playground on level one landside near McDonalds. The new facility is sure to make the airport experience a lot more fun for the kids – and their parents. Designed for pre-schoolers, the playground is fully enclosed with lots of exciting wall and floor mounted toys brought in especially from Australia.

The landside parents’ room in the international terminal is also about to undergo refurbishment to bring its facilities up to scratch and will reopen before Christmas.

Simple tips for making travelling with babies and young children enjoyable

Summer is here and in the next few months you’ll most likely be planning to catch up with family and friends. You might even be thinking about having a family holiday and getting away from the day to day routine of housework and family life. While we all get excited about holidays, there is also that realisation that your days of just throwing a few things in a bag and hitting the road are over.

Travelling with babies and young children can be challenging, there are hours of planning, loads of baby equipment and all those baby supplies from baby bottles to nappies, the list just goes on and on. However there are some very basic things that will make your trip enjoyable.

• Ensure that your child doesn’t overheat by keeping cars cool.
  
• Fluids and food are very important so stop frequently, every couple of hours for about 10 to 15 minutes, to top them up. This is also a great time to breastfeed.
  
• Take advantage of those feeding times, make it a toilet stop too.
  
• Getting the children to stretches their legs.

Toilet training while on the road

Travelling with children while they are making that transition from nappies to underpants can be stressful for both parents and children. Like most things with children being prepared is the most important thing. Ensure your nappy bag has a change of clothing, and of course a plastic bag for soiled clothes. This will save both of you the embrassment of your child remaining in wet and smelly clothes.

When on the road keep a portable potty in the car. This can be very handy at times when you might not necessarily be close to toilets. If carrying a potty make sure you have wipes and a couple of plastic bags to deal with the aftermaths.

Car sick children

While some parents are lucky and their children are born travellers, other parents have the consistent worry of travelling with a child that will get carsick. When planning a long holiday make sure you plan will. If children are in the rear of the car, take corners slower to keep stomachs settled. There are other things you can do like:

• For those with children that get car sick allow plenty of extra time for your trip. Stop frequently, every hour if necessary and allow your child to get plenty of fresh air.
  
• I use to carry a packet of Gingernut biscuits with me on long trips, ginger has a settling effect on stomachs.
  
• A clean, empty ice cream tub, with lid, is a great idea for catching vomit and ideal for those parents with children that get car or motion sickness easily. Ensuring the container is in easy reach place for when you need it!

While you can't always make things perfect for a trip, these tips can help to at least prepare you for your journey. Happy travelling :)

Giant Dragon calls Manukau City home

Weta Workshop Sculpture Demonstration in Westfield Manukau City

Visitors to Westfield Manukau City may be shocked to find a fiery beast residing in the mall from Monday 28 June.

Part of Westfield’s school holiday programme, Weta Workshop sculptor Kim Graham will be inspiring and educating up-and coming artists as she works in ‘The Dragon’s Lair’ on a ‘life-sized’ dragon sculpture. Kim will also be inviting young shoppers to lend a hand in bringing the creature to life.

Kim will be demonstrating sculpting from 10am daily and encouraging children to help her as she works. While talking through the sculpting process, she will explain techniques & tools and reveal how movie magic happens. The dragon is currently a 5 foot 9 inch Plaster of Paris covered sculpture with one TON of clay to be added over the next two weeks.

“I simply adore working with fantasy and mythological images” says Kim. “The Dragon’s Lair is the perfect opportunity for children to experience the art of sculpting and to learn more about the behind-the-scenes work that goes into filmmaking.”

Of course every dragon needs a suitable dwelling and the shopping centre has the ideal landscape for any modern dragon – a mythical castle backdrop.

The Dragon’s Lair also features three interactive run by Lifeway College students giving children the chance to experience 3D animation, the art of caricature and matte painting. The lounges are open from 11am to 3pm: 5 July to 9 July 2010.

Lounge Area 1: Lifeway College Student Showcase
See how animation works
Find out more about 3D animations from the students of Lifeway College. Grab a colouring competition, colour in the dragon and go into the draw to win a $50 Westfield Gift Voucher plus the winner takes home their Matte Painting blown up and printed on canvas. Winners announced 2pm Friday 9 July 2010.

Lounge Area 2: Matte Painting
See how the magic of 3D animation works first hand! Children can have their photo taken and incorporated into an animated dragon-themed background. For a gold coin donation, children take their picture away.

Lounge Area 3: Caricature (2D drawing)
See yourself as a caricature? Children can visit the artist to see themselves in caricature and take it home to show friends and family.

Kim Graham has been a professional artist for more than 20 years in the US. Based primarily out of Seattle, she has recently made the move to Wellington to work for New Zealand's Weta Workshop. Kim has worked and taught in huge variety of fields including welding, sculpting, mold making, casting, bronze, ceramic, human anatomy and prop making.

Weta Workshop is the multi-award winning company known for its movie set design and creation of special effects for movies such as Lord of the Rings.

Plans to re-home the dragon after 10 July are yet to be confirmed however, Westfield Marketing Manager, Monya van Wyk is determining plans to donate the dragon to a worthwhile cause.

Westfield Manukau City, Centre Court, 28 June – 10 July 2010

For more details, head to http://www.westfield.co.nz/manukau

Subzero Heroes

The King and Gentoo penguins are zooming, bouncing and flying around Kelly Tarlton’s putting their awesome skills on show these school holidays. Slide into Kelly Tarlton’s between July 3rd and 18th to check out the SUBZERO HEROES and see if you’ve got what it takes to join them!

Did you know penguins are the fastest birds underwater (reaching speeds of up to 36km an hour) and can slide along the ice at more than 20km an hour? Or that they can hold their breath for five minutes or longer while diving more than 200 meters? SUBZERO HEROES puts the spotlight on these and all the other awesome abilities the penguins at Kelly Tarlton’s (and those living in the wild) have mastered.

Visitors will be able to see the penguins out on the ice showing off their talents during daily enrichment activities (these activities are designed to ensure the physical, mental and emotional well being of the birds). They can also try their own hand at the different skills by embarking on the Penguin Trail where they can search out the SUBZERO HEROES (cartoon characters positioned around Kelly Tarlton’s) and complete a challenge that replicates each hero’s special talent. Kids four and over will receive a Penguin Trail guide when they enter Kelly Tarlton’s and those who complete all 10 challenges will become SUBZERO HEROES and receive a free pack of collector cards.

During the Snowcat Ride or while watching the penguins on the big screen in the Antarctic Room, kids can spot the real SUBZERO HEROES out on the ice in their everyday penguin disguises. Like all good super heroes they’re pretty good at keeping their secret identities quiet but we’ve given each hero a colour-coded band so kids can tell who’s who. Also, we’ve set up a new camera system in the Antarctic Room that lets kids zoom in on the penguins out on the ice to check their disguises up close.

Away from the ice there are loads of creative ways to keep kids entertained. They can learn how to draw penguins or make them using origami. There’s a colouring competition with cool penguin packs up for grabs. You can also chill out and watch the Happy Feet movie that will be playing all day.

Of course every SUBZERO HERO needs a super name – and Kelly Tarlton’s have a batch of new recruits (baby and adolescent King and Gentoo penguins born over the past year) who need a cool one. If your name is chosen for one of the birds then you’ll win a super-special behind the scenes tour of Kelly Tarlton’s penguin enclosure – including going out on the ice where you’ll get your picture taken with some of the SUBZERO HEROES!

NAME: Kelly Tarlton’s SUBZERO HEROES

DATE: Saturday July 3rd – Sunday July 18th

TIMES: Open 7 days, 9.30am – 5.30pm (last admission 4.30pm)
 Penguin enrichment activity on the ice at 1.30pm every day

TIMES CONT:
 Life on the Ice presentation during daily enrichment activity at 1.30pm
 Penguin feeding at 11.30am and 2.30pm every day
 Happy Feet playing all day in the activity room
 Regular Kelly Tarlton’s activities such as stingray and shark feedings and encounters continue as normal. Visit www.kellytarltons.co.nz for more information and times for all other scheduled activities.

HIGHLIGHTS AT A GLANCE:
• Take the challenge and test your skills against the SUBZERO HEROES. Find and complete all 10 SUBZERO HERO tasks on your activity sheet to receive a pack of collector cards.

• Ride the Snowcat and identify all 10 SUBZERO HEROES in real life out on the ice (using the colour chart on your activity sheet and the penguins’ matching bands).

• Win an awesome behind the scenes look at the penguin enclosure – including a trip out onto the ice to have your photo taken with the SUBZERO HEROES – by coming up with a great super hero name for our new recruits.

• Become a penguin expert and learn what makes each of the 17 different species of penguins special.

• Follow us to Antarctica by checking out the photo-montage board documenting Kelly Tarlton’s team members’ trips to the frozen continent.

• Learn to draw SUBZERO HEROES with our easy step-by-step guide to drawing penguins.

• Create a penguin out of origami (and while you’re busy playing with paper have a go at making a paper jet plane too).

• Take part in the SUBZERO HEROES colouring competition and go in the draw to win cool penguin prize packs.

PRICE: Normal admission prices apply: Adults NZ$31.50, Children 4-14 years NZ$15.80, Children 3 and under FREE. Family passes from NZ$53.60 for one adult and two children. Auckland residents – bring along proof of residency to receive a special locals rate.

LOCATION: Kelly Tarlton’s Antarctic Encounter & Underwater World, 23 Tamaki Drive, Orakei, Auckland.

PARKING: There is plenty of free car parking in the Kelly Tarlton’s car park.