29th May 2015
School Group First to Explore Restricted Forest
Wellington, NZ – Earlier this week 170 lucky students at Wainuiomata Primary School were lucky enough to be the
first-ever school group to visit the restricted Wainuiomata Water Collection Area. The area, generally closed to the
public, is host to some of the most significant lowland podocarp forest in the lower North Island, as well as an array
of native wildlife.
The trip was run as part of ZEALANDIA Ecosanctuary’s Outreach Program, designed to teach kiwi kids about conservation
and native wildlife. While ZEALANDIA Rangers regularly visit local schools, this was the first time it had been applied
in an external environment.
“The kids were full of energy and really enthusiastic,” said ZEALANDIA Education Ranger Darren Van Hoof. “It was great
to give them the opportunity to experience such pristine forest right in their backyards, and in an area not many people
get the chance to see.”
As well as exploring the native bush, the students installed and checked tracking tunnels, and learned how to judge
water quality by the presence of different invertebrates. They were also lucky enough to spot ruru (morepork), tomtits,
kererū, fantails, and even an endemic New Zealand falcon.
The Outreach Program is funded by World Wildlife NZ, while this particular trip also required support from Department of
Conservation, Greater Wellington Regional Council, and Hutt City Council.
“It’s also really exciting to see where we can take this next,” said Van Hoof. “With so many great organisations on
board, we are able to take this idea and apply it to different sites around the country, giving kids all over New
Zealand the chance to develop a relationship with the native ecosystems in their area.”
ENDS