On Tuesday, 19th March the Year 11 Geography class went on a local half-day trip to collect data on the health of the Opanuku Stream. We collected data in three different parts of the river, Spragg bush, Palomino Drive, and Cranwell Park. We were fortunate to be joined by the Kaiārahi Mātauranga (Education lead), Josie Wall from our local iwi, Te Kawerau ā Maki. She shared the Pūrākau of Parekura and Panuku to show the significance of the awa (stream), as well as deepen our understanding of the concept of mauri. Josie invited revered Environmental Scientist Dr Kevin Simon who showed us the data he had collected on the health of the awa. This was particularly interesting as he found a direct correlation between the microplastics found in the awa and the health of the Tuna (eel) population. 

When we returned to school we did some testing on the water samples we collected and, based on the results, we strongly suggest not swimming in the river by Cranwell Park!

Written by Ms Millar