Maggie McClune (Otaika Valley School, left), Matakohe/Limestone Island ranger Bernie Buhler and Loren Hope (Ngunguru School) check out a weta on the island.
Teachers from across Northland are better equipped to contribute to the health of their harbours after a Northland Regional Council workshop.
Twenty-eight teachers from Far North, Whangarei and Kaipara schools gathered recently at Matakohe/Limestone Island in the Whangarei Harbour for the council's annual environmental education teacher workshop. The workshop aimed
to boost participants' abilities to get results from their environmental education, and teachers from 17 schools spanning Matauri Bay to Maungaturoto attended.
The 37-hectare island has been the focus of a community-led environmental restoration project for 26 years. Over that time, several thousand people have helped restore the habitat and, today, the island is home to 200,000 community-planted native trees, 2500 skinks and lizards, 50 kiwi and 150 petrels reintroduced via a seabird restoration programme.
NRC chairman Bill Shepherd said the island was an important educational resource for all Northlanders. "Matakohe/Limestone Island is a great example for all Northlanders to show what can be achieved with long-term, sustained community efforts to restore their local harbour catchment."
Teachers who attended the workshop are expecting to work with more than 1750 students back at their schools to put what they've learned into action.
