What next?

So, after all the revolutionary excitement, the question is ... what next?  Well, before we get distracted with such big and philosophical questions, here's a few more awesome photos and labels from the day ...

A buzzing foyer ...

The owl mask makers getting creative

Tayne Lewis' label about the model train even featured this amazing drawing on the back!

Andrew looking happy in his work ... nice t-shirt Andrew!

A champion scavenger hunter (check out those badges!) making an owl mask

So, we've started sifting through the 350 post-it note labels (yep, Geoff found two more hidden away, taking the total to 350!), looking for the very best stories, witticisms, poems and drawings to turn into new long term Ruru labels.  We can't wait to let those talented label writers know their amazing labels are going to be 'published' for all to enjoy ... we're sure the general public will love them just as much as we do! 

After all that, we'll be designing some new scavenger hunts based on the new labels ... watch this space! 

What's that cheeky looking Bill Howard up to???

And take over the museum they did!

The first bunch of trouble makers on the scene for Saturday's Ruru Revolution were these rowdy revolutionaries (minus a few that escaped the camera!).  And let's face it, the outstanding success of the event was all down to our volunteers ... thank you a million times over!

In the end, 348 post-its were plastered all over the long term galleries!  It took an hour and a half to collect them all and still a few escaped our notice ... Geoff found at least 6 today.  Thanks for tidying up after us Geoff! 

We asked a few young Ruru fans what they thought of the event.  Isaac said "This place is better than Te Papa!"  Thanks Isaac, we think so too.  A little guy told Andrew that “This is a really interesting place! There is so much stuff here to look at, it’s so interesting.”  Here here!  And Sahara said:

Agreed Sahara!  Here's a few photos and labels to give you a general impression of the day, which was full of wild label writing, energetic scavenger hunting, colourful and creative owl mask making ... and MASSES of fun!  Thank you to everyone who was a part of it and helped make it magic.  And you know what the best part is?  There's enough post-its left over to do it all over again. 

VIVA LA REVOLUTION!

Getting into the swing of things

Keri in her incredible Ruru costume ... looking good Keri!

The most popular object was the Megalodon shark, but the moa gave Meg a run for her money.  The kiwis were a close third.  Believe it or not, there were 198 labels written for objects in Taranaki Naturally!  Kids LOVE animals and big stuff!

"Please keep children off this display" ... but not post-its!!!

Megalodon shark

Megalodon shark

Megalodon shark

The kiwis were very popular ...

Whaling tripot, Taranaki Naturally

'Story of Taranaki' wall, Taranaki Naturally

Te Ao Whanui mat outside Takapou Whariki

Pseudodontornis stirtoni (false toothed bird) ... hanging off the roof near Meg above the foyer!

Education caps, Taranaki Life

Mikaere with his Ruru mask

A lovely thank you note from Tayne, who wrote SEVEN labels!

We're looking forward to the next one too Tayne ... see you there!

Post-its at the ready ...

What a cutie!  Here's the adorable Stephanie Rapana getting in some practice for the Ruru Revolution event this Saturday ... apparently she has her eye on the stuffed kiwis in Taranaki Naturally.  What are YOU going to write about??

We're almost set for the big event ... post-its have arrived, tees are with the volunteers, badges have been pumped out, excitement is building.  We want to see the galleries positively plastered in post-its so we have our fingers crossed for atrocious weather ...

All that's left to say is ... see you there!

PS: in case you forgot (though we're sure you haven't) ... join the Ruru Revolution, Saturday 14 April from 11am-2pm, and take over the museum!

Ruru Ruru everywhere

The production line has begun!  Charlotte is now a badge making champion ...

Charlotte is now a badge making pro!

... and those sought-after Ruru tees are here for our fabulous volunteers, as are the post-it notes for the penning of the perfect personalised label.  On the note of volunteers, a big thank you to our final volunteers: Adrienne, Janie, Jacqueline, Hannah and Alice.  You guys rock!  And of course, you'll be sporting a Ruru tee of your own, just like me!  The Ruru team is incredibly grateful to the twenty wonderful staff who have volunteered for this event ... its success will be down to you.

And for those of you with young Ruru fans, you'll be very pleased to know that Vivid will be selling kid-sized Ruru tees for $25 during the Ruru Revolution event.  We're sure they'll fly out the door!

A massive shout out must go to the wonderful Logan at Future Grafix for generously creating complimentary post-its for us!  Thank you so much ... they'll make great spot prizes on the day.

Our awesome complimentary Ruru post-its! 

So, it's coming together nicely ... and we're looking forward to Puke Ariki's long term galleries being plastered with personalised post-its!  Viva la revolution!

The creative juices are already flowing ...

That's a good look for you Jocelyn!

Not one to rest on her laurels, Linley has outdone herself by creating yet ANOTHER owl mask as a template for our Ruru Revolution event.  We don't know about you, but we've never seen an owl with a moko before!  But that's Ruru for you ... it's all about trend setting!  (disclaimer: apologies for not using the photo of you wearing the mask Linley.  Unfortunately Andrew's photography was a little dodgy as you were blurry but the background was crystal clear!)

A very BIG thank you to our wonderful Discover It staff for so wholeheartedly jumping on board with the Ruru Revolution event.  As well as committing multiple volunteers to the cause, they have also undertaken to cut out 100 owl masks by hand!

And a massive shout out to our new volunteers for the big day: Virginia, Andrew, Duncan, Fiona and Nicole.  They will join Charlotte, Natalie, Linley, Dale and North Wing Volunteer Erin in the ranks of Ruru tee-wearing staff for the 14th!  Kelvin's generous support has also been invaluable in ensuring the event goes ahead as planned.  And, much to the relief of Natalie, the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery's Keri Naus has kindly volunteered to be the poor sod who dresses up as Ruru ... how's THAT for dedication??  She doesn't even work at Puke Ariki!

The hardcopy Ruru Revolution flyers are only a matter of days away, so don't forget to pick one up, stick it on your fridge, or drop 600 around your local letter boxes!!!



Ruru has also attracted the attention of Sticky TV, the 'very hip, very now' kids television show.  On Thursday 12 April they will be featuring Ruru's I Digress ... scavenger hunts and the Ruru Revolution event on their show as "cool" things to do over the school holidays.  Clearly they have their fingers on the pulse!  Keep an eye out for our soon-to-be-nationally-famous orange owl on the goggle box ...

Thanks to everyone for their continuing support and we look forward to seeing you and everyone you know on Saturday 14 April!

On a final note, after doing some brain storming for affordable spot prizes, Charlotte came across this delightful little fellow ... I mean, seriously, don't YOU want a "handsome Motion Sensor Owl that detects and scares away thieves"?! 

 

Let the planning begin!

So, as you all know, your Ruru team is planning to take personalised label writing public!  Oh, and to dress up ...

… is this what Natalie would look like in her Ruru costume??

This owl looks a smidge on the dejected side ...

Do you know anyone out there who has been dying to get their hands on a gold Ruru badge?  Well, now’s their chance!  They just have to come in to the foyer on Saturday 14 April from 11am-2pm and be a part of ‘The Ruru Revolution’ event.  It’s simple … write a personalised label on a post-it, stick it up next to the object, collect a badge, listen to some music, make an owl mask and more.  Staff, their kids, their grandmas and their creative musings are welcome too!

We also have our very first volunteer for the event.  Jocelyn has officially offered to help out on the day – thanks a million Joce!  We didn’t even have to bribe her with the promise of a Ruru t-shirt we’re not even sure we can afford yet!!!  We know we have a lot of Ruru fans amongst us, so don’t be shy … we’d love to have you along.  We need smiling, energetic Puke Ariki staff to encourage the public to “take over the museum”, as Polly put it.  Join the revolution!

Though we won’t be encouraging a hostile takeover or a storming of Kelvin’s desk (that was Polly’s idea), we will be encouraging creativity, personal expression, the sticking of post-it notes and the making of masks.  Linley has already been hunting out the perfect owl mask for the event … which Charlotte kindly agreed to model for the purpose of this blog!

Looking good Charlotte!

We should have fliers to promote the event available in the next week or two … so pick up a few when you spot them and invite all your friends along.  Oh, and if you want to dress up like Natalie, here’s a costume suggestion from the Ruru team!

Wouldn't Kelvin look ACE in one of these??

Merry Christmas from Ruru!

Your Ruru team wishes you a fabulous festive season and encourages you to bring all your family members in to do a Ruru scavenger hunt during the holidays!

The scavenger hunts and new Ruru Trail ... for curious young owls have been stocked up in preparation ...

It's hard to believe the scavenger hunts have been in use for nearly a year now ... and in that time, over 2,200 have been completed by Ruru fans.  If this rain keeps up, we'll probably get through the 250 we printed today in a matter of days!

After a well deserved Christmas break, the Ruru team will be figuring out a way to extend personalised label writing to the general public.  So for those of you who have friends or family who are DYING to get their hands on an orange Ruru badge, tell them to watch this space!  Oh, and you can write a new label too!!!