Richie’s Run for Conservation

@pukahanz This year we are ‘running’ our annual open day a little differently.

Gates open 10.30 am – 3.30 pm.

It’s Koha (donation) entry and everyone is welcome, apart from your cats and dogs, kiwi don’t like them!

At 11 am we have a relay of the Pūkaha 4km loop track.  

• Four teams of 4 will run two laps of the track.


• Team Westpac NZ and Westpac Ambassador Richie McCaw will take on 3 local teams – Tararua, Wairarapa, and Pūkaha.


• You can watch the race from our Redwoods.


• Our Local Mayors are on the stopwatch.


• Money raised from the relay and day will fund the conservation of the manu (birds) and rākau (trees) at Pukaha.

12 pm Relay finishes

It’s not a day out at Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre without…

Ranger wildlife talks, market stalls, carving studio displays, sausage sizzle, fun activities, mahi toi (art) at our new wharenui and more.

2 pm is your chance to say gidday to Westpac Ambassador Richie McCaw. Grab a snap with him in front of our wharenui for your chance to win a cool spot prize.

We look forward to welcoming you into our forest again for what's set to be a great day!