Media Release
9 November 2010
Kiwi Kids Learn ‘Virtually’ Everything About New Zealand’s Native Christmas Tree
Next week thousands of primary, intermediate and secondary school students from around the country will participate in a
virtual field-trip to Whangarei to learn about New Zealand’s native Christmas tree, the pōhutukawa.
The three-day field trip run by LEARNZ in conjunction with Project Crimson, begins on Wednesday 17 November, and teaches
students about biodiversity, coastal ecosystems and habitats, land use, resource management and plant biology, wrapped
up in a fun and interactive programme.
Project Crimson is a charitable conservation trust, which aims to protect and renew New Zealand’s native crimson
flowering trees – the rata and pōhutukawa. This virtual field-trip will also reveal how pōhutukawa and rātā are in
danger of disappearing from our natural environment.
Students will get to visit Kai Iwi lakes with ‘The Bugman’, Ruud Kleinpaste, who will explain how all things in the
environment are interconnected. They will meet with other experts who have helped restore pōhutukawa in the environment
in Whangarei.
Students will also get to explore areas where pōhutukawa have been planted and discover the significance of this sacred
tree to Maori.
“Pōhutukawa has become a very popular New Zealand symbol of summer and Christmas” says Bridget Abernethy, Executive
Director of Project Crimson.
“20 years ago they were threatened in New Zealand - but as a people we have made a conscious decision to protect them on
our coastline and embrace them as part of our ecology but also our culture and heritage.”
LEARNZ is an interactive education programme, free to New Zealand teachers. LEARNZ uses online tools such as live audio
conferencing, web diaries, photos and videos to take students to places they would never usually get the chance to
visit, without the expense and time of a physical field trip. For more information about LEARNZ field trips and to
register visit www.learnz.org.nz.
ENDS