Te Huruhi School - Waiheke Island
Te Huruhi first participated in EMR in 2005. In 2006 two schools took part in the EMR programme, funded by the Department of Conservation (DoC): Te Huruhi Primary School (Waiheke Island), and Takapuna Normal Intermediate School. The marine biodiversity workshops had some great treasure chest items donated by DoC, Auckland University of Technology and Kelly Tarltons, including some weird and wonderful deep sea specimens such as a ‘glow in the dark shark’.
Te Huruhi Primary School investigated Sandy Bay as their local unprotected marine area. While students were snorkelling, other groups completed beach activities including a treasure hunt and trying to pronounce scientific names. Thank you to the Waiheke Island Coastguard for the use of their rescue boat. Students had a great time at Goat Island, and while they were there one group of students participated in a LEARNZ programme, and answered questions live over mobiles about their marine experiences from students all over New Zealand.
Te Huruhi students are now involved in monitoring their local marine reserve ‘Te Matuku’
Te Huruhi and Waiheke primary schools involvment in EMR in 2008 was supported by WWF and the Auckland Marine Matters programme. Te Huruhi teacher Marie-anne was the coordinator, she was on a Royal Society Fellowship
Press Release 15 August 2007
Waiheke kids take lights, camera, action! for Maui’s
Move over Hollywood - the real film action is happening on Waiheke Island, where a group of bright and talented ten-year-olds from Te Huruhi School are stars and co-creators of an exciting new film about taking action to save Maui’s dolphins.
The film – entitled ‘Take Action for Maui’s!’ was commissioned by WWF-New Zealand as part of the conservation organisation’s campaign to save Maui’s dolphins from extinction. Maui’s are unique to New Zealand, but due to human activity they are now critically endangered. With around just 110 left, Maui’s survival is on a knife edge.
“Saving a species is about tackling the problem from all angles,” states WWF-New Zealand’s Executive Director Chris Howe. “The film is an effective way of getting the message about Maui’s dolphins out to the next generation. It will be part of our popular Maui’s Education Programme, which teaches children about the threats to Maui’s and how they can take action to help protect them.”
The idea for the film came from Dr Barbara Breen, WWF Maui’s Education Co-ordinator. “We wanted to make a film for kids, by kids, to show how they really can make a difference,” she explains. But even she was ‘just blown away’ by children’s enthusiasm on camera: “The energy that all the children brought to the film was just amazing, really inspiring!”
The children of Te Huruhi School are set to launch the film at an exclusive red carpet ‘film premiere’ at the school on Wednesday 22 August at 1pm. It’s presented by two young stars in the making, twins Iona and Lachlan Balfour.
Barbara gave a lesson at Te Huruhi School, saw the kids’ enthusiasm for dolphins and conservation, and knew she’d hit box office gold. “When Barbara came in to give the lesson, our kids jumped on it straight away,” says Marie-Anne Theuerzeit – or Miss T to the kids - a teacher at Te Huruhi School. “The senior children have been involved in Experiencing Marine Reserves for four years, so they’re very aware and interested in conservation. When they heard about the plight of the Maui’s from Barbara, there was a huge interest from the kids.”
WWF-New Zealand would like to thank Island Films for directing and producing the film and to DOC which has part-funded the production of the film. ‘Take Action for Maui’s!’ will be available free of charge to schools and community groups throughout New Zealand, and will be posted on youtube.
“It’s a really powerful, exciting way for us to get the message out about saving Maui’s and we’d like to say a big thank you to all the wonderful children involved!” smiles WWF-New Zealand’s Barbara Breen.
To request a copy, email info@wwf.org.nz or call the WWF-New Zealand team on 04 499 2930. Alternatively, go to www.youtube.com to view the film online.
ENDS
For further information: The PR Department, Victoria
Notes to editors:
• Maui’s are the world’s rarest marine dolphin in the world. News reports earlier this year that China’s Yangzte River dolphin is now functionally extinct are a stark reminder that without immediate protection, Maui’s could easily be next. Extinction is forever.
• ‘Take Action for Maui’s!’ is part of WWF’s campaign to save New Zealand’s native dolphins. For more information on WWF’s work for Maui’s dolphins, go to wwf.org.nz/dolphin
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