Te kura kaupapa o Otangarei EMR in 2009

Year 5,6,7 and 8 students from TKKo Otangarei took part in the EMR programme in Term 1, 2009 thanks to the ASB Community Trust.  TKKo Otangarei also ran BBQ's at EMR's Community Guided snorkel Days at the new Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve over the summer to help fundraise for their big trip down to the Goat Island marine reserve in March. 

They took part in a snorkeling session at the Whangarei Aquatic Centre with EMR coordinator, Kim Boyle, to prepare them for their snorkeling trips out in the marine environment over the term.  They then took a class trip to the Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve during Seaweek and investigated marine biodiversity, human impacts on the harbour, learn about the story of the WHMR and the impacts of the new marine reserve. 

Here's a list of what they found:  Sponges, Seaweed, Pupus, Seahorses, Spotties, Kina, Triplefins, Oysters, Parore, Pipefish, Red Moki, Squid, Banded Wrasse, Clown Nudibranch, Kina, Stingrays.

Triplefins

A baby Leatherjacket

They further investigated local issues back in school and started work on their action project - informing their community of the fisheries rules and marine reserve rules.  They ventured down to New Zealand's oldest marine reserve at Goat Island (Cape Rodney to Okakari Point) in March where they investigated the impact a no-take marine reserve has had on the area environmentally, socially and economically.  They could then make their own decision on if they think marine reserves are a good idea and take this knowledge back to their own community and become Kaitiaki by having the knowledge and tools to take action on local marine issues.

A Goat Island Crayfish spied by the students

Otangarei kids snorkeling at Goat Island

A Hiwihiwi eyeing the students from below

The students designed an awesome display in their school hall and invited thier local community through - the display was designed to inspire, educate and inform others about marine conservation - it did a great job!!

Displayed aimed at educating others of the size limits of paua

Feedback from the community after viewing the kids display

The hall display included a movie made by the kids with local TV station Pukeko Echo

Otangarei School was on the EMR programme in term 4 of 2005.

Their local beach was the Whangarei Harbour proposed marine reserve site at Reotahi.

The students were very impressed with the variety of sponges seen, as they studied these in class.

The students then went to Leigh marine reserve and stayed on Omaha marae. Otangarei School 's involvement was supported by DOC Whangarei.
An article about their experience featured in the local newspaper and the students were given a mission to inform their parents about the newly approved marine reserve site in the Whangarei Harbour .