Snorkel day at Gisborne marine reserve draws 100-plus

EMR co-ordinator Hana Hardy (yellow rash shirt) gets participants ready to snorkel on the reef as part of the Seaweek event at Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve at Pouawa.

More than 100 people got up close and personal with Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve at Pouawa in a special event held as part of Seaweek.

He Awa Ora, He Tai Ora Trust collaborated with the Department of Conservation to deliver the community snorkel day.

A snorkel day was held at Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve, Pouawa.

Funding was provided by Tairāwhiti Environment Centre via the Wai Connection project, and Water Safety NZ.

Each group registered for a guided snorkel session with co-ordinators and volunteers on the reef.

Sheree (left), Elliott, 14, and Pheobe Smith, 10, prepare for their underwater adventure.

“The tamariki who attended also created some amazing sandcastles and completed colouring-in and artwork pieces,” a trust spokesperson said.

“Department of Conservation also provided a free sausage sizzle and everyone enjoyed what the moana had to offer.

“A huge mihi to Ngāti Konohi and the Department of Conservation for establishing this marine reserve,” she said.

The views underwater were sensational.

“It is a precious taonga for our tamariki and it is an outdoor learning environment that some Tairāwhiti residents don’t even know we have.”