Schools take learning under the water
Far North students got to explore the Poor Knights Marine Reserve in early May.
Experiencing the underwater environment was part of the Experiencing Marine Reserves ( EMR) programme that started in the classroom.
Children from Moerewa, Kaingaroa, Omanaia and Kerikeri Primary schools learned about marine diversity and conservation, then they moved to the school pool to get used to masks, snorkels and fins.
On school camp they had the chance to snorkel in a nonmarine reserve where they saw triplefins, leatherjackets and octopus.
The snorkelers were able to see a kina barren, where larger fish are generally lower in abundance and the resulting increase in kina numbers graze the majority of kelp available, taking away habitat and therefore decreasing life of all kinds.
EMR Northland coordinator Harriet Thomas says the Poor Knights look great in pictures, but nothing compares to experiencing them first-hand.
‘‘It’s so rewarding to be able to get both students and parents along to experience the Poor Knights for themselves, a lot of them would never have the opportunity otherwise.’’
Sihrene Hunt from Moerewa did a great speech on the marae about kina barrens and promot- ing a marine reserve in the Bay of Islands.
‘‘This competition offers the students added incentive to produce projects and positive actions towards marine conservation within their community. It is not only a special opportunity for the students, but for their parents/guardians too, as they also get a chance to experience the magical Poor Knights, which is a new opportunity for all from the regions’’ says pro- gramme director Samara Nicholas.
The annual trip is organised by Experiencing Marine Reserves and is made up of representative students from each school that that participates in the programme from Northland and Auckland, as well as representatives from eight regions where EMR is operating including Taranaki, Coromandel, Gisborne, Wellington, Nelson and Otago.