Polly Pekapeka (our Manu | Bird of the Year 2021) is looking for adventure, so she’s off visiting KCCers around Aotearoa – and beyond. Follow all her adventures out and about in nature HERE.
In September/October 2022, Polly went to stay with Hailey (age 9) in Pukekohe. Here’s what they got up to together…
When I got Polly in the mail box, I was so excited and knew that it was going to be a fun adventure.
First we went to go visit “Amsy”, to give her a gift. It was a clay kōwhai flower that I had made at calf club. I wanted to give it to her because kōwhai is her favourite native plant. She loves to watch the tūī eat the nectar.
![](https://kcc.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Hailey-and-Amsy-with-Kowhai-tile-1000x750.jpg)
Then, I took Polly to Auckland to stay with my cousin Ruby right in the city. We took her to explore the city and travelled on the train and a double decker bus which was real fun! Polly flew around the city everywhere.
![](https://kcc.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Hailey-and-Polly-on-the-Train-750x1000.jpg)
We spent a day at the Auckland Zoo. We got to see a baby giraffe. Then, we spent a lot of time looking at native birds including a kea, kiwi, and a takahē. After that, we played on the playground with heaps of other kids.
![](https://kcc.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Hailey-Ruby-and-Polly-with-baby-Giraffe-750x1000.jpg)
![](https://kcc.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Hailey-and-Polly-at-the-playground-750x1000.jpg)
When we got back home, we helped Mum plant some native plants like flax, hebe, and a kōwhai that we grew from seed two years ago!
![](https://kcc.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Hailey-and-Polly-planting-flax-746x1000.jpg)
![](https://kcc.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Hailey-and-Polly-planting-a-hebe-746x1000.jpg)
I really enjoyed spending Polly Pekapeka, and I hope she has a wonderful time at all the other places she will visit.
Wow! Cool adventure Hailey 🙂