Annual Poor Knights Trip

Experiencing Marine Reserves - Dive Tutukaka

Annual Poor Knights Competition Trip

Sponsored by Dive! Tutukaka

www.diving.co.nz

This May (the 18th 2010), the Experiencing Marine Reserve (EMR) team headed out on their 9th annual trip to the Poor Knights marine reserve, starting with only three students from three schools in 2002 this year the competition involved 17 schools from Northland and Auckland. The trip was attended by 29 students and 31 parents, guardians and EMR coordinators

Dive! Tutukaka have been the annual sponsors for the trip for top achieving students that participate in EMR from northland. The competition motivates students to use what they have learnt about marine conservation to inspire their community via projects and actions. Students are selected based on the enthusiasm and effort shown during the EMR programme, receiving a snorkelling trip to the world reknowned Poor Knights Islands.

On the day, a bevy of excited parents and even more excited children boarded the launch a ‘Perfect Day’ at the start of what turned out to be a spectacular trip to the Poor Knights marine reserve on Tuesday. After a karakia to bless the journey, we were ready to go. With salt wind in their hair, the kids took turns propped at the bow of the launch under a brilliant blue sky. Luke Howe the skipper provided an informative commentary about the history, geography and biodiversity of the marine reserve we were about to encounter as the islands grew closer and closer on the horizon.

At the first site of anchor, we were greeted by emerald green waters and squeals of delight. The Dive! Tutukaka crew and EMR coordinators Kim Jones (nee Boyle), Nicki Wakefield and Samara Nicholas helped everyone into their bright yellow ‘Wettie’ wetsuits. While there was some hesitation at first, it was not long before all the kids were snorkeling like little professionals. We were quickly engrossed with the underwater world before us. Amongst waving fronds of olive coloured seaweed and little Damoiselle fish I could see the fins of excited kids leave me in a wake of bubbles as they pulled their parents to investigate different parts of the reserve. Some even went to explore a small opening in the cliff wall which fanned out into a spectacular underwater seacave. Looking out towards the ocean was a stunning sight to behold with shafts of sunlight spilling out against the turquoise sea that framed dark silhouettes of divers and darting fish. All too soon, the ship honked and it was time to get back on board. I surfaced to a horde of breathless and excited kids chattering away about the various sealife they had seen, one had even spotted an eagle ray hiding in the shadows. We then sailed towards the Blue Maomao arch, hailed as one of the best diving spots in the world by diving pioneer Jacques Costeau. We followed schools of snapper, blue maomao and kingfish into the spectacular sea arch while some chose to kayak around the waters.

When it was time to pull up anchor, it was hard to pull myself away from the waters. Luke then took us on a tour around the Poor Knights, cruising around some spectacular surf beaten cliffs and the southern hemispheres highest sea arch towering at over 30 m. The most impressive oceanic encounter was yet to come. As we pulled into Rikoriko cave, hailed as the largest sea cave in the world, all aboard were awed into silence by the cavernous interior which quickly inspired many to bounce their voices off the walls. As we inched closer towards the end of the cave, an enveloping stench knocked us over. In disbelief, we look at the shimmering white mass floating in front of us, the hulking 15m abdomen of a dead sperm whale. The day could not have been more spectacular and bizarre.

The trip home was studded with animated recounts of what the children had seen. Many more were inspired by the encounter to continue supporting marine reserves.

Many thanks to the awesome crew from Dive! Tutukaka who created an unforgettable trip.

Written from the view of Ting Yiu - EMR volunteer

For more information contact Samara Nicholas 09 433 8205 or 021 036 2019

Participating Schools - 9th annual Poor Knights trip
Kerikeri Primary - Eve Robson-Clark
Springbank School - Meg Murray, Megan Bramley
Kaikohe West School Sandy Whare
Onerahi Primary School Taylor Balll & Matariki Moetara
Mahurangi College - Beth Docking & Kathryn Hudson.
Raurimu Avenue - Darren Prime, & Rayna Dangen
Kamo Primary - Meegan Soulsby, Ashley Couling, Maea Shepherd, Lochiel Espiner, Ashley Allbon,
Churchill Parks - Abby McGeorge
Kura Kaupapa Maori O Te Rangi Aniwaniwa - Rangiwewehi Fletcher & Raninikura Waitai – Henare
Dargaville Int - Jessica McLean, Naomi Peti, Tahlia Rogers Brown, Nathan Stirling, Ashleigh Yates, Reagan Wakeling, Caitlin Kumar
Oromahoe - Bjorn Aslund
Pamapuria - Nina Griffiths
Peria - Shania Panther
Bream Bay College - Moengaroa Kailahi

Other participating schools that did not make it on trip included Te Huruhi (Waiheke), Windy Ridge School and Ruakaka School

Photo’s
Topside by Ting Yiu
Underwater by Blair Jones

Participating schools and winning students 2009 trip:
Kerikeri Primary – Mila Urlich & Anna Burton
Purua School - Nayman Cork-Peters
Matarau School – Chloe Neil & Reumah Horne
Kamo Intermediate – Brooke Edwards & Kalia Topia
Onerahi Primary School – Kyran Vette & Taylor Campbell
Opua School – Taira de la Cour & Tyler Hynde
Homeschooler – Kesia Accourt
Whangarei Girls High School – Julia
Whangarei Intermediate – Nikita Sutton
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Otangarei – Kitana Kelly & Joshua Takiari
Parua Bay School – Aisha Atherton, Rosie Harris & Billy Hamilton
Whangarei Heads School - Zoe Stonex & Theo Houte
Otamatea High School – Jacob Webster & Joshua Hansen
Broadwood Area School – Bailey Howell & Te Rima Smith
Northland Health Camp – Te Wiremu Mercer from Waima School
Te Kura O Hato Hohepa – Molly Tauroa
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Te Tonga O Hokianga – Arin Smith
Whau Valley School – Annalea Jenkins & Charlie May Clarke
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Te Rawhitiroa – Hanani Kanter & Mana Ashby

Absent on trip:
Whangaruru School – Deanne Carpenter & Te Ata Pene
Opononi Area School – Ashley Le Valance

2008 Images:

Previous years competition winners:

2008

Toni Rouse Kaeo Primary, Charlie Capill & Sherry Harris from Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Kaikohe, Wayne Murray, Chad Scrivener from Herekino School, Jackson Snowden & Dawson Edwards from Kaikohe West School, Lauren Goble from Kaitaia Intermediate, Emily Powell, Maddison Fox, Freya-Rose Newman, Jodie Rees, Lucy Griffiths from Dargaville Intermediate, Sammy Ring from Northcross Intermediate, Celina Westbrook from Kamo Intermediate, Joshua Doidge from Onerahi Primary, Michael Smedley from Tauraroa Area, Manning Reynolds from Mangakahia Area School, Darelle Toki & Emma Brickell from Whangarei Girls High, Kimmy Holtz from Manaia View, Rameka Clarke Te Horo, Ruby Kawiti & Susan Turney from Whangarei Intermediate, Hannah Blackwell & Ashley Maher from Leigh School, Malachi Harris from Pakiri School.

2007
Whangarei Intermediate - Zoe Littlejohn

Kokopu School - Liam Hailes

Kamo Intermediate - Becky Davidson, Jordanah Thomas,

Chenae Sketchley

Waipu Primary - Rhiannon Sim

Totara Grove School - Cheyenne Heke

Mangakahia Area School - Clelland Renolds

Parua Bay School - Annelies Griemink

Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Te Tonga O Hokianga - Temoananuiakiwa Korewha

Kohukohu School - Casey Clarkson

Opononi Area School - Blossom Van Boxel

Broadwood Area School - Hemaima Proctor

Whananaki School - Summah Green, Keegan Fyfe

Te Kopuru School - Anine Esterhuizen

Otamatea High - Mia Tong

Kamo High Sch - Olivia Jellick

Bay of Islands College - Josh Goldfinch

Diving with a Star - Poor Knights Competition Trip 2006

Eighteen Northland students came together on May 17th to experience the magical Poor Knights Islands marine reserve and to dive with a star! This year students and their guardians were joined on the sole charter by film star - Bruce Hopkins on the 5th annual "Dive! Tutukaka - Experiencing Marine Reserves" competition trip.

Bruce Hopkins is one of New Zealand 's most prolific actors featuring in films such as 'The Lord of the Rings', 'Jubilee' and 'Savage Honeymoon'. Kelly Tarlton's daughter and grandson also came on the trip with Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) coordinators Samara Sutherland and Kim Boyle.

Dive! Tutukaka sponsor the trip for one student from each Northland school that participates in the EMR programme.

Winners for 2006:
Sean Cochrane - Opua School
Blake Gunn - Pompallier School
Nicolle Clotworthy - Onerahi Primary School
Jonathan Taylor - Northland College
Harriet Duley - Pakaraka School
Alex Birchall - One Tree Point School
Siobhan Wakeling-Geange & Katie Humm (sponsored by EMR) - Dargaville Intermediate
Cheyenne Field - Karetu School
Devon Beatson - Te kura Kaupapa Maori O Pukemiro
Brandon Neho - Kaitaia Intermediate
Sarianna Crook - Homeschoolers
Sheldon Radovanovich - Manaia View School
Peara Rawiri - Whangaruru School
Hazel Buchanan - Whangarei Intermediate
Elizabeth Dunn - Te kura Taumata O Panguru
Jessica Bullen - Kamo High School
Shona lee Lawrence Samuels - Matauri Bay School
Taipa Area School & Otangarei School students did not attend

Past Dive Tutukaka competition winners:

2005

Sian Sullivan-Mangles, Ahipara School
Paris Rudolph, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Te Rawhiti Roa
Faith Te Kani, Ngaiotonga Valley School
Chelsea Isaacs-Mathewson, Whangarei Intermediate
Yeshi Brown, Peria School
Emma Baker, Parua Bay School
Wiripo Manuera, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Rangiawhia
Hine Naicovi, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Rangiawhia (sponsored by EMR)
Ana Bassett, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Rangiawhia (sponsored by EMR)

2004 (competition also offered to Auckland EMR schools)
Shelisa Bruce, Te Tii School
Tyla Stevenson, Kaitaia Intermediate
Maria Buller, Oromahoe School
Jerrikah Byrne, Opua School
Bella Burgess, Auckland Girls Grammar
Sabrina Puia, Orakei School

2003
Jacob Brown, Whangarei Heads School
Kimberly Desmond, Taipa Area School
Tony Moses, Helena Bay School
Hayley Douglas, Ngunguru School
Jade Ruka and Holly Worthington, Russell School

2002
Renata Marsters, Whananaki School
Mevagh Sanson, Kamo Intermediate
Cameron Pene, Paihia School