School students take action to protect Te Repo o Papatahora wetland
A group of tomorrow’s scientists from Te Rōhutu Whio School in Tauwharekākaho Rolleston visited Te Pā o Moki marae in Southbridge in October to learn about the biodiversity of its surrounding land and help protect it for future generations.
Ākonga (students) planted native trees at a site on Te Repo o Papatahora wetland, next to the marae. They searched for invertebrates and insects on the surrounding land, using invertebrate identification charts and logging their findings on iNaturalist and even tested their own wooden and harakeke (flax) watercrafts in a nearby stream.