Generations work together
A project to restore the biodiversity of the Waipoua River catchment and support sustainable land use for mana whenua, has reached a significant milestone with 293 bait stations for possum control installed over 600 hectares.
This was completed by two staff employed through the Government’s Jobs for Nature programme and one volunteer.
Matt Calder, DOC’s Kauri Coast project manager for landscape predator control, says Te Toa Whenua Restoration Project, led by Te Iwi o Te Roroa, has made impressive gains over a short time since kaimahi started on the ground around five years ago.
“The 900-hectare restoration of former plantation pine forest is one of the most ambitious in the north – the area is inundated with pest plants and menaced by pest animals – but Te Roroa have done an outstanding job of securing funding.”
In addition to the Government’s Jobs for Nature funding, DOC is supporting Te Toa Whenua through the Ngā Awa river restoration programme by working with Te Roroa on monitoring the rivers biodiversity, researching fish movements and finding ways to improve fish passage.
Te Toa Whenua has also attracted funding from Foundation North, the Tindall Foundation, One Billion Trees and the Northland Regional Council.
As well as the pest control and research, the project has another significant achievement under its belt. With support from several funding streams, including Ngā Awa, the project’s nursery has transformed from a small backyard operation to a large-scale nursery, providing plants to restore the Waipoua River’s riparian margins and hillsides.
Courtney Davis, Te Toa Whenua project manager, says the project’s name is a tribute to 19thcentury warrior Tūohu, who was a warrior and gardener from the local area.
The phrase ‘‘te toa o te whenua’’ (the warrior of the land) is from an oriori (lullaby) composed by his cousin Taoho as a testament to Tūohu’s mana as an expert in land use and management of people.
“I’m proud of the intergenerational nature of the project,’’ Davis says.
‘‘It’s really cool to have older people training up the younger ones and providing employment for local people.
“Our field supervisor was formerly a forester here. Now he’s
Harold the Giraffe will keep on trucking in the Far North after a successful funding campaign to upgrade his mobile classroom.
The charity Life Education Trust, which has spent more than 30 years running its life skills programme in preschools and primary schools, has successfully raised the $50,000 needed for the upgrade to a ‘‘digital classroom’’.
Life Education Trust content specialist Lisa Crombie said the money was eventually raised through a Givealittle page set up in 2021.
Local businesses, individuals, and another charity – Save the Children – all came on board, she said.
‘‘Save the Children has not only funded a large part of the classroom upgrade, but committed funding to the Far North trust for three years,’’ she said.
‘‘This generous commitment will enable Harold the Giraffe and the upgraded mobile classroom to visit schools in the most remote parts of the region and ensure tamariki have the opportunity to build on their knowledge each year.’’
Life Education Trust has also announced a partnership with Save the Children to help children learn about their rights, from access to healthcare, housing, and education, to being protected from violence or practising their culture.
Save the Children chief executive Heidi Coetzee said education transformed children’s lives.
‘‘We’re excited by our new partnership with Life Education
Trust as we join together to bring quality and fun child rights education resources into classrooms around Aotearoa, benefitting tamariki now and into the future,’’ she said.
Life Education Trust chief executive John O’Connell said the upgraded classroom meant teaching staff were able to use the latest teaching resources for young children.
‘‘Life Education Trust’s vision is to inspire tamariki to make positive choices for their health and wellbeing, now and in the future.
‘‘Thanks to the generous donations from Save the Children, local businesses and individuals, tamariki in the Far North will have the same opportunities to learn as those in the rest of the country.’’
The upgrading of the mobile classroom will be completed by the end of term one in April.
This role is Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ On Air.
‘‘This generous commitment will enable Harold the Giraffe and the upgraded mobile classroom to visit schools in the most remote parts of the region and ensure tamariki have the opportunity to build on their knowledge each year.’’
Lisa Crombie
Life Education Trust content specialist