Why Climate and Self Restoration?
I believe this topic can revolutionise our education system. Inspired by a global organization called the Foundation for Climate Restoration, I asked Peter Kaiser if I could trial a class in a created programme based on what the Foundation teaches.
I was privileged to be given Room One and we have been engaged in a climate and self restoration program for 11 weeks. On the last day of those weeks we all did a day trip with Explore Ferry Group to see marine mammals and visit Rotoroa Island. The island visit was an hour and a quarter, and the rest of the time was spent on the sea, looking for sea birds and dolphins and whales primarily, but also for other marine mammals like stingrays and turtles, and whatever we could find. Students had one journal per group, with notes about native seabirds, land birds, and plants we might find.
This is a blog of that day.
In the 10 weeks we had been learning about our native plants and native birds, predators, and island and sea restoration. In particular relating to the curriculum we learned:
Science:
Use scientific knowledge and skills to make informed decisions about the communication, application, and implications of science as these relate to their own lives and cultures and to the sustainability of the environment.
Health and wellbeing:
Hauora: a Māori philosophy of well-being that includes the dimensions taha wairua, taha hinengaro, taha tinana, and taha whānau, each one influencing and supporting the others.
Attitudes and values: a positive, responsible attitude on the part of students to their own well-being; respect, care, and concern for other people and the environment.
The socio-ecological perspective: a way of viewing and understanding the interrelationships that exist between the individual, others.
(For those interested, the Foundation for Climate Restoration https://foundationforclimaterestoration.org/ is about reducing carbon emissions and taking methane and carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, reducing carbon in the atmosphere from now 440 ppm (parts per million) to 300 ppm (the same as it was pre industrial levels).
Some of us saw the little blue penguin/korora swimming not far from the ferry.
And more about the gannet.
More about orca.
Rotoroa Island
Our Biosecurity Ranger - Gabrielle, gave us the Biosecurity talk - We checked our bags , listened to if there was an incursion of stoat on the island what that would mean for the island? Also how to keep safe and how to use the wharepaku on the island as there is no central sewage system.
We walked the Northern loop in record time.
We made it to the top. The view - Nga poito o te kupenga (the islands are the floats and in between the nets that catch so many fish) - that was what Kupe said 400 years ago when he came in his waka from HawaiKi.
Now the Hauraki Gulf/Tikapa Moana is under threat: 250 spotted shags left, NZ fairy tern just 40 left, Caspian Tern 250 adults, Sooty Shearwater 250 adults. It is on the brink of collapse. We need young people to be in action. Adults listen to them when they are inspired and in action. As a young person own that you can make a difference because you really can.
We walked down the hill. It was declared a silent space. We walked in silence for 20 minutes. This was so we could see birds better and they were less likely to fly away. Is that a takahē? That doesn't fly away and they can run and travel big distances Ces in a day.
Pukeko or Takahē?
This is where you often find the takahē. We could not find it. We needed to ask Ranger Gabrielle. And if we see Ranger Sean he will know where they are?.
What bird is this?
This is a tīeke/saddleback. Tīeke have a legendary reputation as guardians, weather-predictors, fortune-tellers and guides, although their saddle-like markings are said to be a sign that they once displeased Māui-pōtiki and were marked when he grabbed them with a hot hand and singed their feathers.
And this one? This is whitehead/pōpokotea. These birds are viewed by Māori to have roles as messengers of the gods and they were fortune tellers.
There are traps every 10-15 meters to make sure we save these birds. (We are protecting them from stoats and rats.) They can swim from the mainland. Note the native katakana. The native plants on the island are another story. 400,000 natives planted after the Sallies had run this island for recovering alcoholics for 100 years.
And a tracking tunnel (also 10-15 meters apart) to keep monitoring what creatures are on the island.
This is the rarest tree in the world - Pennantia Baylisianna. It can now bear fruit. It was found on a Poor Knights Island and is another great conservation story like the takahē, Geoffrey Orbell was 11 when he thought there must be more takahē after it was deemed extinct. He rediscovered takahe in the Murchison mountains in 1948. We can today still explore saving species from the brink, now more urgent than ever.
Pateke Pond - no Pateke spotted here today.
We get to Ladies Bay.
Watch out for the weka. These birds can unzip your backpack!
It would be interesting to know how Rotoroa island was formed?
We swam 500 m from the orca whales.
Beautiful dotterels live here.
Some of us meet Ranger Sean. He and his wife Maria and their two young children live on the island.
We walked back to the ferry fast.
Phew ! We made it.
We got spoilt on the ferry with zero lemonade and chocolates.
A postscript
A big thank you to Thomas who took most of these photos. There were other camera people too - Anton, Jaydev, Ridwan, Sophie and Allie. Another big thank you to the sponsors - Michelle, Amanda, Cam, Kirsty , Pip and some from Tirimoana School. Also to teachers Mrs Rooney, Mr Curtis and Ms James.
And to Room 1 - You have allowed me to contribute to you, to laugh, to cry, to be challenged, to be joyous, to grow and develop, to see the miracle of your young creative minds, to learn from you around what you want for your self and climate restoration. You will be in my heart forever. Go and have a great life seeing miracles, restoring our climate and pursuing your dreams.
Sending best wishes always,
Whaea Robin.