Gisborne Schools

Tairawhiti/Gisborne Schools

EMR was piloted in the Tairawhiti/Gisborne region during term 1 and 4 2006 with support from the Department of Conservation seed funds, the coordinator was Alana Goldsmith. However, due to the high imput required, Department of Conservation where unable to continue. EMR came to a holt in Gisborne but demand for the programme continued and many more families were noticed to utilize the reserve in a positive way. However schools need guidance for snorkel activities and Earth Centre is the ideal organisation to develop EMR in this region.

There is still an urgent need to promote value of the Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve (est. 1999), it's critical for community to experience with their own eyes, as this is essential to achieving marine protection in their own areas and building community support for the existing marine reserve. This marine region is highly utilized for kaimoana gathering by communities and has a huge summer influx of people.
Delivery of the proogramme to the Gisborne Region in 2009 was under the umbrella of Earth Centre, the regional coordinatoirs for EMR in this area are Joe and Murray Palmer. Support for this delivery came from the national body for EMR the Mountains to Sea Conservation trust with funding for the national expansion from the Tindall Foundation.

Schools involved in 2009:
Awapuni School, Riverdale School, Mangapapa School, Te Kainga Whaiora, Te Wharau School, Te Hinetaporo Kohanga Reo.

Local area's investigated included Tatapauri and Kaiti reefs. After marine reserve investigations Awapuni School undertook a Beach Clean-up and investigation into how best to protect and restore their local Kaiti reefs and Riverdale are advocating for toilet facilities at the marine reserve carpark.

2006 Schools

Kaiti School
Four classes (75 students) year 4 – 6, from Kaiti School visited the marine reserve.
Bad weather cancelled one day, which was re-scheduled for the following day and
another day had been doubled booked with another school. Eventually all students’
snorkelled in the marine reserve and saw koura and kina, and finally completed the
programme they started at the beginning of the year.

Whangara School
The entire school from Whangara, 53 students, aged from year 1 – 6 also successfully
completed the EMR programme they started at the beginning of the year. Biodiversity
workshops in the classroom were delivered again to the students and weather held out
long enough for 2 snorkels. The local snorkel, undertaken on the northern side of Te
Ana o Paikea was a windy and therefore murky day but was good enough practice for
the snorkel the following week at the marine reserve.

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kawakawa mai Tawhiti
Although the whole school (60 students, yr 1 – 10) had attempted a snorkel at the
marine reserve but it was a murky day. Unfortunately the school could not fit in an
appropriate time in the term and so opted for another snorkel at Horoera instead.
They felt this was a good alternative and would try visit the marine reserve another
time.

Gisborne Intermediate School
Five out of nine classes attempted snorkelling on a murky day in term 1, and were
unable to snorkel this term. Teachers assure me the students learnt heaps from their
studies and Gisborne Intermediate are planning to run the full EMR programme
concept next year, in term 1, while undertaking marine studies in school and having a
beach based camp with marine activities at Tatapouri Bay.

Rerekohu Area School
Rerekohu had one intensive week with the full EMR programme. The students’ enjoyed
both snorkel days: the local snorkel day at Horoera, where students practiced
snorkelling and diving down in large teaspoon shaped rock pools; and the day at Te
Tapuwae o Rongokako marine reserve. Students were surprised to see so many
marine creatures with little effort compared with Horoera. The experience the students
had has resulted in more understanding and discussion on having a marine reserve
closer to home for the community in Te Araroa.

Tolaga Bay Area School
This involved the Whare Kura, one class who contacted me at the beginning of the
year to help them with their marine studies while on a wananga at Whangara.
Biodiversity workshops were held in term 1 and they completed the full EMR
programme this season. Everybody enjoyed both snorkel days, especially at Blue
Waters, at the northern end of Tolaga Bay, for the local unprotected snorkel. The
Whare Kura produced excellent individual projects on Rahuitanga.

Marine Reserve Crays