Students learn about nature

St Joseph’s School has teamed up with Muau¯poko Tribal Authority to introduce its students to the natural world, and learn more local history.

Three groups of kids spent time one day last week planting trees at either Punahau/Lake Horowhenua learning about pest trapping and eels, or roamed Waiopehu Reserve studying giant snails, walk the bush and learn about rongoa¯, while the third group explored the reserve around Lake Waiwiri and learned about mudfish.

“It is a way to help kids appreciate the natural cycle,” said Hilary Sheeran, school board chairwoman.

It wasn’t only students and parents who turned up. Because this event was part of the Catholic parish’s annual Season of Creation, parishioners also turned out to help collect rubbish, plant trees and among them was their parish priest, who helped dig holes for trees.

Sheeran is the social justice activist in the parish and has worked tirelessly to create a better future for many people, including refugees, and help others understand the plight of the less fortunate.

For this project she referred to a 2013 letter by Pope Francis calling on his people to care ‘for our common home’ as motivation for the Season of Creation focus.

“September is social justice month for us and it culminates on October 4, St Francis Day. St Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals, merchants and ecology.

“The world is our home and locally Muau¯poko protect our immediate home by trapping pests, releasing eels in the lake and planting lots of trees.”