South Auckland primary schools to be a haven for Weta
August 2016
Unitec is working with three schools in South Auckland to measure the school weta population and analyse their diet with
an eye towards improving conditions for them on school grounds.
One of eight recently funded SouthSci projects under the Participatory Science Platform, South Auckland pilot, Unitec
researcher Dr Stephane Boyer was successful in applying for a $17,000 grant to carry out the research with the schools.
Bairds Mainfreight, Rongomai and Dawson Schools are involved in the project with researchers from Unitec Institute of
Technology and Lincoln University.
Boyer explains “we are always interested in weta habitat, and improving the areas in which weta might feed or breed.
Tying this in with a school project helps to achieve this aim, while also educating students about weta habitat,
conservation, genetics and hopefully nurturing a love for their environment”.
SouthSci project manager, Dr Sarah Morgan says “the kids will be using DNA sequencing technology in this project to
identify the plant species the weta are eating – from poo samples. They hope to identify preferred diet from that, and
schools can choose to target their planting to match it.”
Boyer explains “we’ve got some weta hotels set up in each of the schools, to see if any weta are already hanging about.
Using a hammock under the wooden ‘hotel’ boxes, we can collect the droppings which the kids will then prepare for DNA
sequencing”.
The project kicks off on the 12th August with a workshop day at Bairds Mainfreight School, where the three schools and
researchers will come together to learn, teach and plan.
ENDS