Dear friend, 

Pūharakekenui|Styx is a river catchment in the north of Ōtautahi/Christchurch which I’d love you to visit. There are many beautiful sites along the awa (river) and its tributaries. It’s peaceful and being in te taiao (nature) during these times is restorative. You might even find some fruit on the trees at this time of year. 

The Pūharakekenui Styx Living Laboratory, alongside Mana Whenua, and Christchurch City Council, have been working on Mahika Kai and ecological restoration throughout the catchment for over twenty years. One day, you’ll be able to walk the length of the river from source to sea; the manu (birds) will have a green corridor, and the native fish will flourish. 

For now, I’ve picked some places you might like to see. I’ve put some little cache drawers with postcards, pencils, and prompts at various tables and benches in the catchment, so you can draw me a picture and write me back. I’ll be creating art and poems from the postcards I receive. 

Looking forward to hearing from you, 

Khye 

Creative Communicator - Pūharakekenui Styx Living Laboratory Trust, 2024

Check out the map and click on the kōtare (kingfisher) symbols for details - the blue symbols are the cache locations, the teal are where you can find return boxes.

The sites have been chosen, in collaboration with the Pūharakekenui Styx Living Laboratory team, are beautiful places where ecological restoration work has taken place or is underway. Each cache is at a seat or picnic table where you can pause for a while, read the prompts Khye's written, and perhaps draw and write your own postcard to send back to Khye and the Trust. In return you can keep a Pūharakekenui Post pencil!