Get involved in Seaweek activities
Superheroes don’t always wear capes.
In this year’s Seaweek Roadshow, the National Aquarium of New Zealand educators will be celebrating what there is to love about the ocean, and helping children discover what amazing super hero powers sea creatures have.
During Seaweek, which runs this week until Sunday, March 8, the educators will be visiting 23 schools and doing 37 shows, between Central Hawke’s Bay and Wairoa. The 30-minute interactive shows are always popular — this year they were all booked out within 24 hours of being available.
“We want children to connect with the ocean. This is one way we can encourage people to begin a lifetime of caring for our marine environment,” says one of the educators, Karlie Lett.
There are other ways you can be involved in Seaweek in Hawke’s Bay, including beach clean ups, citizen science, attending a lecture or taking a tour. The theme for this year is Ko Au Te Moana, Ko Te Moana Ko Au (I am the sea, the sea is me).
“Godwits fly from Alaska to get to our estuary and powerful ocean currents bring nutrients to the rock pools. This Seaweek there’s the opportunity to explore our local wild places and see how nature connects Hawke’s Bay to the world,” says Seaweek regional coordinator, Jake Brookie.
The National Aquarium is recognised as an official supporter of Seaweek.
Others who support Seaweek locally and have been involved in organising this year’s events are the Hawke’s Bay Regional and Napier city councils, Ministry for Primary Industries, Department of Conservation, Birds NZ, Forest & Bird, Ahuriri Estuary Protection Society, Cathedral Environment, Justice & Peace Network, Catholic Parish of Napier Care of
Creation Group, Our Seas Our Future, and artist Cinzah Merkens.
This year’s tour of the Seawalls murals in Ahuriri and the CBD by bus, on Saturday, March 7, includes a few new ones.
Other Hawke’s Bay Seaweek 2020 events include:
● Dive into Books, Saturday, March 8, 1-2pm, Napier Library
Join Seaweek regional coordinator Jake Brookie and learn about what lives in the sea. Featuring fun facts, fossils and more.
● Marine Metre Squared, February 29 — March 31, DoC
Get involved in monitoring NZ’s marine environment. Pick up your ‘how to’ guide and equipment from a library.
● CAN (Creative Arts Napier) Seaweek Plastic Fantastic Sculpture Challenge, March 2-27
A competition open to all ages — repurpose supermarket waste that can’t be recycled. Create a 3D sculpture either at home, or at CAN from Monday, March 2, in the Plastic Fantastic workshop area. Creations will be judged by Jake Brookie and environmental artist Susan Mabin. For more info, visit www.thecan.co.nz
■ For a full list of events, go to www.nationalaquarium.co.nz or www.seaweek.org.nz