Te Kura o Hato Hohepa in Waitaruke, Whangaroa Harbour participated in the EMR programme in term 4, 2008. The local investigation at Matauri Bay was carried out on a beautiful day in October.

The most exciting finds of the day was a very friendly leatherjacket.

The students, teachers and parents carried out a beach clean up and were worried to find a lot of rubbish along the beachfront.

With the snorkeling confidence gained from snorkeling at little dippers in Kerikeri and Matauri Bay students, whanau and teachers travelled 4 hours! to experience the Goat Island Marine reserve with an overnight stay at Pakiri Beach Motor Camp. Snorkellers were blessed with clear skies and seas on the second day.

"There were fish everywhere!!"

Even a blue cod from the Forest & Bird marine reserves DVD was there!

The Kura left Goat Island wowed by seeing what is possible for thier local marine environment and shared thier findings with the Waitaruke community through an open day.

To get a set of these images or more information on Te Kura o Hato Hohepa's EMR programme contact Nicki