Excitement and furious activity is mounting at Puke Ariki as its Fifth Birthday fast approaches and the party of the year gets underway.  Manager, Bill Macnaught is keen to find all children born in Taranaki on 14 June 2003, the same day as Puke Ariki opened.

""We would like to hear from parents whose children turn five on 14 June and invite them to bring them in to Puke Ariki at lunchtime that day to help us celebrate.  Their first special duty will be to assist Mayor Peter Tennent to cut the giant birthday cake,"" says Bill. 

""We will also have a special birthday present for each of these children who share this unique birthday and we would like to record this occasion with a celebratory photo on the day."" 

Bill Macnaught would like parents to phone him if they can prior to the event so he is aware of how many children were born that day in Taranaki.     

""There is an extraordinary connection to Puke Ariki for these children and we are eager to establish a lifelong rapport between them and this region's young flagship museum,"" he says.

The grand fifth birthday celebrations at Puke Ariki commence at 12 noon until 4pm on 14 June with the cutting of the giant cake by Mayor Peter Tennent.  Festivities kick off straight after with multiple activities throughout the North and South wings featuring; live music, piano recitals, orchestra, kapa haka, live radio broadcast with loads of prizes, belly dance, Japanese kempo, treasure hunt, giveaways, Taranaki rugby players and rugby goodies, writers workshop, weaving, Chess & Bridge sessions, school groups performances and much more.