COMP CLOSED | Book Giveaway | One Weka Went Walking

A stunningly illustrated children’s book led by a weka’s curiosity.

Did you know that a fifth of New Zealand’s rare and endangered bird species are on the Chatham Islands?

One Weka Went Walking showcases some of New Zealand’s rarest birds, including one the rarest seabirds in the world, the tāiko. The featured birds are all endemic to the Chatham Islands, except the buff weka, introduced in 1905.

With heightened interest in these remote islands and several conservation programmes in place to support those facing the worst declines, it seems a good time to introduce some of the lesser-known inhabitants. And who better to do so than the nosiest bird of them all?

The concept for One Weka Went Walking was born in 2013 when author Kate Preece was staying on the Chatham Islands. Kate knew just the person to bring the words to life, her childhood friend and bridesmaid, Pippa Ensor. Pippa immediately understood Kate’s vision of presenting a book that was as educational as it was entertaining. The pair found themselves bound together in this, their most wonderful adventure together yet.

One Weka Went Walking will engender a deep appreciation in children for our precious native birds. And with the inclusion of surprising facts and true-to-life illustrations, the book will also serve to pique the interest of older readers.

One Weka Went Walking has broad appeal. Its rhyming and repetition makes it a great read-aloud book for young children. The facts about each bird will connect with older readers. And the illustrations will appeal to everyone — whether they are bird lover, art enthusiast, have connections to Rēkohu, or simply wish to extend their knowledge of New Zealand’s incredible birdlife.

About Kate Preece

Kate Preece studied journalism at Canterbury and Massey universities, through which she decided to make a living telling people’s stories.

It was the late Jon Gadsby who first gave her a chance and so began a 14-year stint in the magazine industry, culminating in Group Editor of Allied Press Magazines.

Over the years, she held various roles, including editor of Kiwi Gardener, Kiwi Gardener Quarterly and Kiwi Gardener Journal, and Style magazines. Today, she switches between writing children’s books, editing her first adult fiction novel and extending her children’s vocabulary.

About Pippa Ensor

Pippa Ensor loves to draw. It’s part of what inspired her to study architecture. A registered architect since 2016, her career has seen her at desks in Wellington, Auckland, Stockholm, London and Christchurch, but North Canterbury remains the place she calls home.

As an associate of Athfield Architects in Christchurch, weekdays see Pippa leading projects within the Canterbury region, while weekends are spent with her two young children, helping her husband harvest acres of horseradish for a local food producer or at the family bach in Goose Bay.

Her adult life has her pencil most often trained on buildings and their intricate details, but in 2021 she became an expert on the many faces of the buff weka.

Terms and conditions

1. 1. You must be a GrownUps member and receive our newsletter to be eligible to win.
   2. Competition closes on the 18th October 2022, winners will be notified via email by 20th October 2022.
   3. It is your responsibility to ensure you correctly enter a New Zealand postal address where the prize can be couriered. GrownUps will not take responsibility for prizes sent to incorrect addresses.
   4. Winners are drawn at random by the GrownUps administration team.
   5. GrownUps employees and family are not eligible to enter.
   6. By entering the giveaway, you approve for GrownUps to use your name on social media as winner of the competition.
   7. One entry per person.
   8. Prize is non transferrable.
   9. You must reside in New Zealand – the prize will only be posted within New Zealand.
   10. You must be over 50 years of age to enter, check your details are correct in your membership dashboard.