In March, East Taranaki Environment Trust (ETET) donated a "Kiwi Experience" to the Child Cancer Foundation charity auction organised by Professionals Real Estate.
The opportunity to get up close and personal with a kiwi bird was won by Fiona Vickers for a bid of $500 with funds going to support the charity's New Plymouth branch. Fiona attended the auction in support of a friend's daughter who is currently in remission from cancer.
The kiwi experience was scheduled on Saturday, May 9 to coincide with the release of kiwi bird "Murf" into ETET's project area in Purangi.
Murf hatched in January and weighed a healthy 1100grams on the day of his release.
He arrived safely in Taranaki after making the journey from Kiwi Encounters in Rotorua under the watchful eye of Neil Phillips, Trustee of ETET. Murf is sponsored by the Phillips family in memory of Neil's wife Denise Phillips, nee Murphy, who passed away last year after a long battle with cancer.
Prior to Murf's arrival, Fiona and her guests (her two brothers and a close friend) enjoyed a leisurely drive to Purangi and picnic lunch at the site.
"It was an adventure driving out through the beautiful back country, and when the ETET team arrived we were welcomed like part of the family," says Fiona.
Fiona and others were able to get up close and personal with Murf before he was released.
"We got to touch and stroke the kiwi and watch as he was tagged," said Fiona.
"It was an amazing experience and such an exhilarating day that it was worth every cent that I paid for the opportunity."
As a result of this unique kiwi adventure, Fiona has decided that she will sponsor a kiwi at Purangi in memory of her mother, father and grandmother.
Sponsoring a kiwi creates a unique and personal connection with a local kiwi project and helps ETET to continue to breed and monitor kiwi in the area.