Tales of endangered natives

Environmental films documenting a range of stories including a love tale of two elderly tuatara are being screened in Nelson this weekend as part of the gala opening of Reel Earth – the fourth Nelson Environmental Film Festival.

The festival opens on Saturday night with a couple of award-winning films about two of New Zealand's most special species, the tuatara and the kakapo.

Love in Cold Blood is a love story of the slow courtship of Mildred and Henry, two elderly tuatara in the Southland Museum.

After 40 years, they finally decide to mate at the ripe young ages of 80 and 111 years.

Their partnership means a lot, not only for the dedicated people who care for these rare animals, but for the survival of this ancient species.

The Unnatural History of the Kakapo portrays the story of the team of people who confronted the apparent inevitability of the kakapo's extinction.

The festival programme is made up of both New Zealand and international films which canvas a range of topics on the environment including 1080, the world's fisheries, extinction, global warming, albatross and self sufficiency.

The festival, which runs until September 5, is a fundraising event for the Brook Sanctuary and Nelson Environment Centre which are co-presenting the festival with Nelson's State Cinema.

All of the programme's films will be screened at the Suter Cinema.

Saturday's gala opening is at the Suter Cinema from 7.30pm. Tickets are $20.

Prices for the rest of the festival's film sessions – adults: $14.50 or $11.50 before 5pm, seniors and students: $11.50, children: $9, family ticket: $40.

A full festival programme is available from Nelson's State Cinema, the Suter Cinema, the Nelson Environment Centre and the Brook Waimarama Sanctuary Trust Visitor Centre.

- © Fairfax NZ News