An event to raise funds toward a $100,000 project at Kaihere School is set to kick off on June 6 to June 8.
The Kaihere Hunt will run for its third year with funds going towards Project Active Turf – a $100,000 project to put artificial turf on the current school courts, which will become available for the whole community to use for sports such as tennis, hockey and athletics.
Organised by the Kaihere School PTA, The Kaihere Hunt has more than $10,000 worth of prizes on offer this year.
People are invited to hunt pigs, deer, turkey, peacocks, magpies, rabbits, hare, stoats and ferrets – but the main focus is possums.
The PTA will organise the possums to be plucked and then the fur sold.
Hunting location is open and weigh-in is at midday on June 8 on the school fields.
Event co-ordinator Clare Ward said: “Thanks to the great support from local and other businesses plus community members, we have some awesome prizes up for grabs”.
“The hunt is gathering momentum year by year with participation by hunters of all ages.”
This year the focus is on possums, a major pest in the area, with four prize categories: most possums; second most; average number; lucky number.
Younger hunters are encouraged to be involved with ‘mini hunters’ prizes as well as spot prizes for the ugliest possum, the longest rat’s tail, the silliest goose and the best dressed hunter.
Kaihere School children had their interest sparked when Maree Limpus from the Department of Conservation recently gave a talk about the importance of keeping the environment pest free – an important and serious message that goes with the fun and the competition of the hunt.
There are also categories in the 16 years and older group for average weight pigs, biggest tusks, and for heaviest deer and best head.
Mini-hunters, the under 16 year old group, can enter for average number of possums, most runners, most flight, most climbers and most overall pests.
DETAILS: For more information and to register an adult or mini-hunter, email pta.kaihere@gmail.com.
