13 December 2016

The new Rainforest Centre taking shape at Pukeiti.

A REBIRTH IN THE PUKEITI RAINFOREST

The outline of Pukeiti’s new Rainforest Centre has taken solid shape as its year-long construction and fitout enters a new phase.

The old gatehouse at the iconic gardens is being revamped and extended to create the new centre, which will encompass reception, hospitality, interpretation and function areas. It will also link to the already competed vireya covered walkway and aerial extension to the waterwheel lookout.

“The building has been designed to connect strongly with its surroundings, and as with the improvements that have already been made at Pukeiti, we’re confident that visitors are going to be impressed,” says Greg Rine, Regional Gardens Manager with the Taranaki Regional Council. “It’ll have the wow factor.”

“We measure annual rainfall by the metre at Pukeiti so the winter and spring have been challenging for the contractors. But now the better weather’s here, we’re all looking forward to good progress on the Rainforest Centre.

“In the meantime, there’s a lot to see and do. Our newly opened features, the Misty Knoll and the Keiller Home Rhododendron Garden, are proving popular, and we’ve got rhodos that are still putting on delicious displays.”

Pukeiti has the largest collection of rhododendrons in New Zealand and is one of the key collections in the world. The new Rainforest Centre is scheduled to open in spring 2017.

For more information, see www.pukeiti.nz.

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