Education empowers next generation in Te Hoiere catchment
Pictured above: Students from Linkwater school on an excursion to a local stream.
The Te Hoiere catchment is an ecosystem of immense ecological and cultural significance. Streams within this catchment not only provide habitat for native species but also hold the mauri—or life force—that is deeply valued by Ngāti Kuia. As these waterways face ongoing environmental challenges, a recent educational initiative involving Canvastown and Linkwater Schools students has helped to equip the next generation with the knowledge and passion needed to protect and restore these vital ecosystems.
Sarah Huntley, Education Coordinator for the Te Hoiere Project, recently led a series of immersive field trips to engage students in hands-on learning about stream health. By involving local schools, the initiative aims to encourage a deeper connection between students and their environment, allowing them to become stewards of the land and water for future generations. The programme also emphasises the cultural importance of maintaining healthy waterways for Ngāti Kuia. It is the responsibility of all who live within the catchment to protect the mauri of their environment.
Understanding the challenges
The Te Hoiere catchment faces numerous environmental challenges, including invasive plant species, erosion, and declining water quality. Canvastown and Linkwater Schools are situated within communities that have a long-standing relationship with the streams and rivers flowing through their backyards. For these communities, the health of the waterways is not just an environmental concern but also a cultural and spiritual one. Ngāti Kuia regard the tuna (longfin eel) as taonga and a tohu species (indicator) of stream health. Ensuring the survival of these species and the streams they inhabit is vital for preserving the mauri of the area.
Exploring stream health with Canvastown school
Canvastown School students participated in two field trips designed to deepen their understanding of stream health and cultural significance. The first trip took place at a site near their school where the Te Hoiere flows, but the area was overgrown with invasive species like gorse and blackberry. Guided by Ruihana Smith (Ngāti Kuia), the students explored the mauri of the river, its history, and its cultural significance. They also engaged in activities like sketching observed plants and species, assessing water clarity, and conducting eDNA testing to identify aquatic life This initial exploration allowed students to witness firsthand the impact of neglect on their local environment and to understand the feeling that a place like this can generate within a person.
On their second trip, the students visited a different part of the river with healthier ecosystems. Through comparing both sites, they discovered how different environmental factors affect the mauri of the waterway. They observed differences in water quality, biodiversity, and vegetation, and discussed how these elements influenced their feelings about each site. This experiential learning highlighted the tangible ways that stream health—or lack thereof—impacts the overall environment.
Motivated by their findings, the students expressed a desire to take ownership of the degraded area near their school. They wrote a letter to Ngā Toki Kaiahuone, Ngāti Kuia’s horticulture team, asking for assistance in removing invasive species such as gorse and old man’s beard and restoring native plants. This showed a genuine commitment from the young generation to actively participate in the restoration of their catchment.
Linkwater school's unique approach
Linkwater School approached the Te Hoiere Project with a school-wide focus on the importance of wai (water), with a particular interest in the longfin tuna. Their programme began with classroom sessions led by Sarah, where students learned about the tuna’s lifecycle, migration patterns, and cultural significance to Ngāti Kuia. The students then embarked on a hikoi to a nearby stream, where they used a range of scientific tools to assess the health of the waterway.
Equipped with bathyscopes, invertebrate identification kits, and fish traps, the students, guided by Wendy Sullivan (Landcare Trust and Te Hoiere Project), discovered a thriving ecosystem teeming with freshwater shrimp, koura (crayfish), and small fish. They also got up close with a longfin tuna caught in a hīnaki (eel trap), deepening their understanding of this taonga species. This hands-on experience allowed students to connect their classroom knowledge to real-world observations, creating a greater appreciation for stream health and its broader implications.
Broader community impact and future goals
These educational efforts are part of a larger initiative to restore and protect the Te Hoiere catchment. By engaging students at a young age, the programme aims to cultivate an environmentally-conscious generation who are informed and passionate about conservation. Feedback from students and teachers has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing newfound enthusiasm for environmental stewardship.
The long-term goals of the programme include expanding these educational opportunities to other schools within the catchment and encouraging community-wide participation in conservation efforts.
As the students of Canvastown and Linkwater Schools continue their journey of learning and discovery, their efforts are a reminder of the importance of nurturing not just the environment, but the knowledge and passion of those who will inherit it.
For other schools interested in joining this initiative, the Te Hoiere Project encourages reaching out and becoming a part of this growing community movement to protect our waterways for the next generation and beyond.
