Over 40 students
from around Te Awarua-o-Porirua Harbour came together last week to share the
work they have been leading to protect and restore Porirua’s harbour. Their
ambitious projects include pest eradication, freshwater restoration, art
journals, and fish passageway improvements. And for seven lucky students, their
commitment and passion has earned them an overnight trip to Kapiti Island.
The selected students will be presenting their projects at Pātaka Gallery on Saturday 2nd of December at 2pm. Zoe Studd, Programme Director for Mountains To Sea Wellington, encourages the public to attend the public presentations and support the work of the students. “These young people are doing some fantastic work. We want to share this with the wider community and give them the recognition they deserve.”
Porirua Mayor Mike Tana is impressed with the calibre of the projects that will be presented, and the students’ long-term vision. “Our future is with our young people, building on our past with Ngāti Toa Rangatira. It’s great to see the students, our young kaitiaki, working on their aspirations for our harbour and being supported to implement their projects which will improve Porirua’s natural environment.”
Whilst on Kapiti the students will snorkel in Wellington’s oldest marine reserve, and explore the amazing native biodiversity and history of the island. The trip, which is held each year by Mountains to Sea Wellington, is intended to support Porirua students as kaitiaki for the harbour, and to inspire their future endeavours to learn about conservation techniques.
Mountains To Sea Wellington is a charitable trust which delivers education programs, community projects, and environmental restoration programs focussed on freshwater and marine conservation throughout the greater Wellington region. They are supported by Greater Wellington Regional Council, the Department of Conservation, Porirua City Council, and other partners in the Porirua region.Pictured above: One of the winning participants, Carter Birmingham, Ryan Tinney and Devante Nichols from Paremata School, who set up Pest-Free Paremata.
29 Nov 2017
