Starting outside the recently renovated Manawatū Community Hub Library, kids can join best friends, Pu the Pūkeko and Ru the morepork, as they go on a quest to find out which bird's beak is the best! The story walk will take them across the iconic red bridge towards Makino Aquatic Centre and wind along the path toward the outdoor playground. 

Along the way, readers will learn facts about native birds, solve rhyming clues, and enjoy a few laughs from a mischievous pūkeko. The story includes Māori bird names and highlights native plants and animals, making it a rich learning experience that celebrates both literacy and local ecology.

The Hīmatangi Beach leisure space is well worth the visit! The new story walk sits alongside a redesigned flying fox, pump track, and skatepark that has been repurposed from the Feilding skatepark redevelopment. There is also a covered BBQ area in addition to a tennis court and playground all situated right next to a beautiful beach.  

Kids will love reading about Tama who is down at the lake with his sisters and grandparents. Tama wants to go for a swim, but when his sisters tease him about a taniwha being in the river, he hesitates to go in, and questions whether taniwha are real.  

The award-winning story, Tama and the Taniwha, is written by New Zealand author Melanie Koster with eye-catching illustrations designed by Melanie’s daughter Monica Koster. The story integrates Māori words and phrases for the reader to enjoy. 

Nestled amongst the forest walk at Kōwhai Park is Juliette MacIver’s imaginative story, That’s Not A Hippopotamus, Illustrated by Sarah Davis. The walk takes kids from the newly developed multipurpose playground, through the bush and on an adventure they won’t forget quickly when they come across the amazingly carved Hippopotamus created by local Duncan Foord. 

The story is also translated into a Te Reo Māori version, Te Hipo Huna, with the permission of translator Karena Kelly for its use.  

With the modern playground, river, cricket field, duck pond and more on site at Kowhai Park, there is lots to enjoy!

The Grizzled Grist Does Not Exist! has been brought to life as a story walk at Mt Lees Reserve. Beautifully illustrated by Sarah Davis, the story follows quiet, observant Liam and his excited, boisterous classmates on a trip to Dismal Hills wilderness.  

Mt. Less offers plenty of shade with well-established trees and gardens, fun things to climb all over in the adventure area, some swings and loads of perfect picnic spots! Kids and adults alike will enjoy spotting what others can’t see as they follow this story through the beautiful bush walk on offer.  

Plus, keep your eyes peeled at the end for an amazingly carved 'Grizzled Grist' that took over 20 hours to create!

Keep your eyes peeled for the temporary story walk scheduled to be set up in the Feilding CBD for the duration of July. The story, Flit the Fantail and the Matariki Map, by Kat Quin, has been selected to nicely coincide with the town’s Matariki celebrations. The beautiful story features a busy fantail called Flit and his forest friends on a nighttime adventure. Together they try to capture a star shining brightly on the horizon and discover some important lessons about the Matariki stars and navigation along the way.