Parua Bay School kids got an intro to NZ's marine environment and its biodiversity in the classroom with EMR coordinator Kim Boyle and intern Nathalie Puelmanns. They experienced their new and very local reserve at Reotahi (Whangarei Heads) too. They looked above and below at the reserve, finding its boundaries, history and marine life. They learnt how they can become active in looking after the reserve by being Kaitiaki (guardians) and helping to spread the word about the reserve and where it is. Here's a list of some of the biodiversity that were seen during Room 6, 7, and 10's visits:

Goatfish

Parore
Snapper
Sponges
Clown Nudibranch and it's eggs
Seaweed
Leatherjacket
Red Moki
Triplefins galore
Spotties galore
A BIG short tail Ray
Kina
Sea Snail
Kingfish
Hairy Sea Hare
Butterfly Perch
Blue Mao Mao
Sweep
Sea Cucumber
Squid
Marblefish
Demoiselle Mrs Green strikes a pose
Starfish ...and we all dive into it
Oysters

Moray Eel
Flounder
Crayfish
Shrimp
Mullet
Yellow-eyed Mullet
Hermit Crab
Banded Wrasse
Banded Perch
Paua

That's 34 species!! Well done to Billy Hamilton for naming 10 species that he saw without any help from his classmates. Rooms 6, 7 and 10 are off to the Goat Island marine reserve in March to experience NZ's oldest marine reserve and see what the surrounding community have gained from having a marine reserve so close by...watch this space for more cool pics and a list of things they see there!!

A Hairy Sea Hare

Spotties eye the snorkeler as they eye up their prey...

Spotties eat an Oyster that's been opened by an Oyster Borer...it can take the Borer up to 3 days!!

Triplefins perch on your hand.

Watching Triplefins and Shrimps on the rocks - the shrimps even came and cleaned our fingernails!!

Someone spots a Clown Nudibranch

This is fun!

Senior students then went out to Poor Knights Islands with Dive! Tutukaka - a most awesome time was had by all. Following that, Parua Bay School ventured down to New Zealand's oldest marine reserve at Goat Island. Here they saw huge Snapper, Crayfish, Butterfish, Silver Drummers and so much marine biodiversity that they couldn't name it all!!

Students then went back to school and set about working on their action. Room 10 designed presentations and did research into other marine reserves, threats to the marine environment and presented their work to the class. Room 6 and 7 designed posters to spread the word on marine reserves and showed them off at the school assembly. Congatulations to the following Parua Bay school students for winning a trip out to the Poor Knights marine Reserve with EMR for their actions...

Rosie Harris from Room 6 for her awesome poster, beach clean up and excellent presentation. Rosie has stood out in the crowd for her knowledge, understanding and willingness to take action.
Billy Hamilton from Room 7 for his poster encouraging others to Experience a Marine Reserve, informative presentation which outlined tangible benefits of marine reserves and his ability to put his knowledge into practical action e.g. changing the legal limit for Snapper on his boat to 30cm. Billy has stood out throughout the EMR programme with his willingness to learn and his contributions in the class and in the field. I believe that Billy will make the most out of the Poor Knights trip and will go on to keep spreading the word.
Aisha from Room 10 for her presentation on the Kermadecs Islands Marine Reserve and significant contribution in class. Aisha also missed out on the Poor Knights trip that Room 10 took for reasons out of her control. Aisha presents her ideas very effectively, and I feel that she will benefit from the trip and will make the most out of it. I believe this experience will assist her to widen her knowledge on marine reserves and that she will use it to continue spreading the word on marine reserves.

Parua Bay 2009