Children enjoy trip to Mayor Island
Waihi Beach Primary School students can look out and see Mayor Island in the distance every day.
It’s an intriguing sight for the students as some have ties to the island — and it is also imprinted on their school logo.
School trustee Kelly Thrupp says Mayor Island is an iconic and sacred taonga that students can see from a distance. Yet many families have never been there.
“We believe that children need to have their places of belonging in their environment, so they may learn about them and bring them to life,” she says.
In November last year, the school was able to send about 45 senior students to spend the day there exploring, snorkelling and bush walking. The aim is for every Year 6 to have an excursion.
But such a trip is a huge expense. The school charters a boat at a cost of $4000.
“It is no small task to make a trip like this happen, between Mata¯ o Tu¯hua being 25km away by sea, having 29-45 learners that need to get there and all the planning and considerations that are necessary, not to mention the cost of hiring a charter boat to transport the children to this sensational destination.”
The school approached Greg and Melanie Sheppard from Harcourts Gold Star Waihi Beach who funded the entire trip.
This year’s excursion in term four may involve a stay overnight, Kelly says.
Echo Walking Festival is visiting Mayor Island on April 10. It is fully booked but people can sign up for the waiting list www. echowalkfest.org.nz