Estuary Visit hits the News

ROBYN EDIE/Fairfax NZ

New River Primary School pupil Mason Smith, 11, paints a fish on an Elizabeth St stormwater to remind people to keep drains clean, watched on by Environment Southland education officer Pat Hoffmann.

Graffiti for a Good Cause

Stormwater drains get a spruce up

New River Primary School pupils are graffiti-ing the streets this week to help protect Southland's marine life.

About 24 senior pupils are taking time out from class today and tomorrow to paint stormwater drains on and around the school property with pictures of fish and "Rain Only" signs, to remind the public to keep drains clean.

Environment Southland education officer Pat Hoffmann said the children had been learning about estuary life and the dangers litter and oil in stormwater drains posed to the ecosystem, helped along by Environment Southland staff.

Pupils will also spend time at the estuary this afternoon, testing the clarity of the water against a stream they studied while on Borland Lodge camp.

Pupil Gabrielle Davy-Turner, 10, said she expected the water in the estuary to be dirtier than the water at Borland Lodge because more rubbish ended up in the estuary.

Room 12 Estuary Walk

It was a Windy Twirly Tuesday  Morning Room 12 was getting ready to go to the Estuary walk 

Pat Hoffmann,  Whaea Rangimaria,  Mrs Rolton,  Mrs McCambridge,  Jenna  (Ella's Mum), Kerrie (Gabrielle's Mum), Cheryl (Lanes Mum), Ron (Kathryn's Dad), and the Mysteryouis man Chris helped Room 12 students on our trip to the Estuary. 

First we got into our groups and talked about storm water drains and where they lead to. We spray painted the New River Primary storm water drains and then walked to the Estuary. On the way we spray painted all the storm water drains on Elizabeth Street.

The Southland times people came with us. I had a turn at spray painting and the Southland times lady took a photo of  Pat and I. We continued walking to the Estuary,  I was in group Rua with Simba, Kathyryn,  Mason, Bailey,  Ron and Mrs  McCambridge .

The first station  we went to was with Whaea Rangimaria. We talked about Ranginui, Papatuanuku which is all about Mother Nature we also talked about wai which is water and keeping the Estuary clean. The second station we went to was was with Spring. With spring we had to get with a buddy and  draw each  others hand and write something in the middle that might need help or caught your eye.              

My buddy was Bailey, Bailey drew my hand and Spring drew her hand because of her broken arm.  In my hand I wrote swans because they made the water look beautiful and it caught my eye even though the  water was yuck.  Ron lifted up this big rock and there was a big crab underneath it.  Bailey, Mason and Simba grabbed crabs and put them in their hands for a great photo.  Kathryn and I were to scared to grab a crab because it might nip us.  It was time to go because our time was up we met up with everyone.  Mrs Mc Cambridge told us that my group was with Pat.  We followed pat and started our rotation with Pat.  Pat led us down to the water.  She was trying to do was inspire us to take care of the estuary because it was Te Awa Hou's estuary, our estuary. 

By Gabrielle Davy-Turner

View of Estuary Across the Railway lines

Mystery Guest - Chris

Whaea Rangimaria - sharing stories of Papatuanuku

Motu Pohue sits in the distance of the Estuary

Crabs living in the estuary

Rain ONLY in the storm water drain