Bug out at the museum

30 June 2006

Bug out at the museum
stevenson winter festival
1 - 16 july 2006

These school holidays, as part of the inaugural Stevenson Winter Festival, kids are allowed to fuel their fascination with creepy crawlies with Auckland Museum's new Bring a Bug Fridays. Between 11am and 1pm on Fridays July 7 and 14, kids who are Auckland Museum members can bring in their bugs for curator John Early to identify.

But you can't simply pop along with your chosen bug into the pocket of your shorts - the only condition is the bug must be secure. A jar with breathing holes is best. And if you're lucky, Mr Early may even let you look at some of the scary bugs in the Museum's extensive collection.

It will be hard to stump John Early - he has a bug-hunting CV second to none.

Since his appointment as Curator of Entomology at the Museum in 1992, his work has taken him to many far-flung New Zealand territories and beyond - including the Chathams, sub-Antarctic islands, Alderman Islands, Chile and Canada.

Mr Early has been involved in developing the Museum's popular discovery centre 'Weird and Wonderful' and led the curatorial team that redeveloped the natural history galleries.

Bring a Bug Friday is just one benefit of being a member of the Auckland Museum. A one year family membership to Auckland Museum is only $50 and includes free admission to the museum, Stevenson Dinomites club membership for the kids, free MQ magazine subscription, discounts to charged exhibitions and much more.

Another option is the Kid Plus membership - when a child can join for $30 and bring any adult along they wish. More details at www.aucklandmuseum.com

Other highlights of the Stevenson's Winter Family Festival include:

* StorySpace - Exploring New Zealand's people, land and history through stories, play and make-believe in the new StorySpace within the Museum's Treasures & Tales section.

* Dinosaurs Alive! - Once-in-a-million-years romance, as Delaurus and the Museum's new male dryosaur finally get together. * Walk On the Wild Side - Family Trail expeditions through New Zealand's Natural History Galleries and Maori Court.

* Matariki Workshops - A chance for visitors to make their own pois and decorate their own sets of titi torea sticks.

* Lots of musical activities.

* Visit www.aucklandmuseum.com/?t=873 for more information. * To download images see http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/?t=798

STEVENSON WINTER FAMILY FESTIVAL PUBLIC PROGRAMMES

UNDER 7 YEARS
Dinosaurs Alive! DAILY AT 11.30AM, 12.30PM, 2PM AND 3PM ORIGINS GALLERY, FIRST FLOOR PRICE: $4 PER CHILD, ACCOMPANYING ADULTS FREE (Members are free but still need to collect a ticket)
Delaurus and our male dryosaur are united at last. Now they are familiar with each other, our two dinosaurs are very friendly, and the Museum's keepers hope that they will become more than just good friends. Come along and witness the blossoming of their romance ...
Stevenson Storyspace 1 - 19 JULY, MONDAYS & WEDNESDAYS, 10:30AM & 11:15AM

TREASURES & TALES, FIRST FLOOR PRICE: $4 PER CHILD, $2 FOR DINOMITES.
This special story space for preschoolers and their adults opens on 1 July with Heroes as its inaugural theme. See stories come alive with songs, musical instruments, craft activities and
Creative Kakahu JUNIOR WORKSHOP: 4 - 6 YEARS WEDNESDAY 5 JULY, 11AM - 12.30PM PRICE: $10 (OR $7.50 FOR DINOMITES)
Make a funky performance costume of piupiu and headband. Then go to see the fantastic Manaia Maori performance (Admission for one student included in the workshop price)...
STEVENSON DISCOVERY CENTRE 10 MINUTE ACTIVITIES

SATURDAY 1 JULY TO SUNDAY 16 JULY, 10:30AM -12PM, 1:30-3PM DAILY PRICE: $2 ($1 FOR DINOMITE MEMBERS), NO BOOKINGS REQUIRED, JUST POP IN.
* Mondays Star Mobiles - make a Matariki mobile.
* Tuesdays & Saturdays Matariki Window Decorations - colour a design to decorate your window.
* Wednesdays & Sundays Matariki Badges -make a Matariki badge to wear.
* Thursdays Porotiti - make a whirling instrument.
* Fridays Straw Panpipes - make a simple wind instrument.

OVER 7 YEARS

Curator in the House EVERY THURSDAY AND FRIDAY MORNING OF THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS Meet some of the Museum's celebrated curators in their galleries. See and handle precious items from behind the scenes. On Thursdays our renowned Maori Curators, will be in Maori Court. With rare objects of adornment. On Fridays it's the turn of our famed entomologist, John Early, who will bring some of his more scary bugs into the Natural History Galleries !
FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

Family Trails NATURAL HISTORY AND MAORI COURT Trails are a great self-guided way for your family to get the most from your Museum visit. The Natural History Walk on the Wild Side will put you on an exploration path of NZ's evolutionary story from dinosaurs, fossils, mountain tops to the ocean depths. The new Trail He taonga Maori, through the Maori Court highlights Maori treasures, history and culture. Pick up from your Trail Passport from the information desk.
Storytelling TUESDAY 4 & WEDNESDAY 5 JULY, 11AM TE KAKANO, GROUND FLOOR
Be spellbound by traditional Maori tales of the natural world, and Taonga Puoro, beautifully told by Janneen Love.

Purple Productions present Fred's Frond TUESDAY 11 JULY & THURSDAY 13 JULY, 11AM TREASURES & TALES, FIRST FLOOR
Fred's Frond is an interactive show that tells of Fred's waka journey to deliver magic koru to his friends and is scattered with te reo, pork, puha and pohutukawa. The show's themes celebrate fitness, friendship, native plants, the sharing of kai and of course the great outdoors.
Poi Introduction

SUNDAYS, MONDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS, 11AM AND 2PM TE KAKANO,

GROUND FLOOR
Come in and learn the basics of using poi in these informal sessions.
Hinearaukatauri Concert - A Celebration of Renewal, Revival and Survival

SATURDAY, 8 JULY, 2.30 - 4.30 PM MAORI COURT

Acclaimed Taonga Puoro artists from across Aotearoa New Zealand come together for a performance in celebration of Hineraukatauri (goddess of music) and her whanau (family) of voices and performers, and the annual contribution they make to the Matariki festivities.

MEMBER ONLY EVENTS

Exclusive Opening Party - Dine with Dinosaurs! FRIDAY, 30 JUNE MUSEUM FOYER
The Family Festival kicks off with an EXCLUSIVE opening party for Museum Family Members.

You will get the chance to tour the brand new Storyspace and finish off with a yummy family feast - with our Dinosaurs in attendance! Spaces are limited so make sure you RSVP withut delay when you get your invitation!
Goodie Bags - every day of the Festival! Each Dinomite who comes along to Winter Family Festival will receive a special Museum Goodie Bag when they show their membership card on leaving the Museum. Goodie bags will be stuffed full of treasures.

Bring a Bug Friday 11.00AM-1.00PM NATURAL HISTORY GALLERY Family Members can bring their (secured) bug to the museum each Friday of the Festival and our celebrated bug curator, John Early, will identify it for you - he might also let you look at some of the scary bugs in our collection!

ENDS

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