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 programme to the Gisborne Region is under the umbrella of Nga Mahi Te Taiao, the regional coordinatoirs for EMR in this area are Joe and Murray Palmer.....
School Stories:
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.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time with you all at Te Tapuwae O Rongokako Marine Reserve, please pass on our gratitude to your kaimahi as they did an awesome job giving the students a fantastic experience of which will stay with them for a lifetime. Seeing our country students come from out of the moana with huge smiles on their faces is priceless and for most of them this was their first time they have ever experienced an activity like the one they have encountered today.
Here are some of the commentsThese comments and many more flowed from our students and your team needs to be commended, the other staff members also said they were impressed with the professional manner and casual and friendly style your kaimahi showed with working the students and staff.
- “I didn't think I would like coming to the beach today, but after snorkelling with the fish this is so awesome."
- "I am so getting a snorkel set and coming back here it's mean"
- "This is primo sir I've never seen a crayfish up close and in the water like this, do we have to get out now."
Key outcomes reported on from Gisborne
• whanau participation
• improved conservation understanding
• many of the students provided with new challenges
• positive experiences in natural environment
• opportunity for integrating with curriculum based studies
