Tokomaru Bay pupils inspect rocks near the Beach Rd seawall after being invited to work alongside ecologists gathering information about marine organisms before the seawall is rebuilt next year.
Tokomaru Bay pupils inspect rocks near the Beach Rd seawall after being invited to work alongside ecologists gathering information about marine organisms before the seawall is rebuilt next year.
Tokomaru Bay tamariki were special guests for an opening karakia and ecological assessments on the Beach Rd seawall this week.
Hatea-a-rangi and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Taonga Tūturu ki Tokomaru schools were invited to take part in the studies before the rebuilding of the seawall next year.
Studiesincluded lizard tracking, “communicating” with kororā (little penguins) and sampling life in the sand and under rocks.
In a Gisborne District Council release, Tokomaru principal Herena Paranihi said the mokopuna were privileged to work alongside ecologists to gather information about the marine organisms and their environment.
“All of our mokopuna whakapapa to our hapū Te Whānau a Ruataupare me Te Ao Tawarirangi, so understanding the impact on their taiao [environment] is important to them as our leaders of tomorrow.
“Mokopuna were particularly interested in the kororā and whether their natural habitat could be protected, as they know that the decisions made today affect them tomorrow.
“Our mokopuna were reassured by the ecologists.”
Tokomaru Bay pupils gathered information about marine organisms and their environment.
The seawall rebuild is part of the council’s $241m Government-funded recovery programme and has been prioritised in partnership with Te Rūnanganui o Ngāti Porou (TRONP).
Five dropouts on Beach Rd will be repaired early next year, and the rebuild will begin in October.
TRONP deputy chairman Na Raihania said the whānau of Te Akau o Tokomaru were pleased and thankful for the decision to fix the seawall and road.
“This project will enable us, as a close community, to maintain our whakapapa connections and ensure access to services, particularly in times of adverse conditions such as [Cyclone] Gabrielle. Our road is our lifeline - me mihi ka tika.”
Rohenga Tipuna 6 rūnanga representative Whiti Timutimu said climate change “is on our doorstep, or in this case has impacted infrastructure on many East Coast roads”.
“What I’ve loved about the engagement and partnership with Gisborne District Council with the iwi-led projects is that our tamariki mokopuna have been a big part of it ... from the karakia to start the ecological assessments to exploring their taiao with the ecologists.
“Climate change is not going away, and we need them to be our Ngāti Porou ecologists and our roading engineers in the future.”
For more information on the local roads recovery programme, go to the council’s website.
