Iridescence - a beautiful karawa tūī. She hangs suspended in the dappled light of the ancient lava forest, pointed skyward, poised to fly upwards to her home in the lofty canopy. Her feathers shimmer and shine, playfully colourful, subtly shifting in the changing light. Hidden secretly in the undergrowth you may spot her ōwhanga camouflaged, keeping her pī snug and safe. Withiel Thomas Reserve has a calming presence the minute you step foot inside, enveloping you like a mother’s embrace. The whenua holds memories of new motherhood; the first place I became a mother to my sons. The first place I shed my childhood and stepped into a new role, shifting and changing with life’s tides.