Far North pupils to test community-solving skills in US

It's a long way from the small northern communities of Kaitaia and Ahipara to Lexington, Kentucky.

But two groups of Far North schoolchildren are about to journey to the finals of the world Community Problem Solving championships.

Six junior community problem solving children from Kaitaia Primary and eight middle division (intermediate) children from Ahipara School 12km away, plus coaches, have earned the right to represent New Zealand in the United States-based finals from June 2 to 5.

They've had to raise more than $120,000 between them since late last year within a local district often seen in statistics as one of the poorest in the country.

The teams are brushing up on the problem solving projects that won them places in the world finals. Each team must present their projects in Lexington, then undergo interviews and questioning by judges (without coaches), before explaining in public the projects at their respective schools.

Under coaches Andrea Panther and Charity Hohepa the Ahipara team sought advice from local people on cleaning up the badly polluted Wairoa Stream which runs behind the school before starting a local landcare group and then planting trees and shrubs for 150m along one side.

The waterway was then fenced off to stop cattle entering the stream and the group met Far North District Council representatives to discuss what could be done to stop discharge from nearby septic tanks.

A $120,000 ratepayer-funded job followed to divert a stream feeding into the Wairoa around the Ahipara landfill.

A $2000 award paid for fencing and planting while $5500 from the Northland Regional Council was used to set up a website, produce a brochure and buy more plants.

The student-inspired landcare group meets monthly and is attended by team members, regional council, environment group, community and school representatives.

In town at Kaitaia Primary, teacher-coach Veronica Turner's six junior problem solvers, known as the Flood-Fighters, worked to minimise flooding in low-lying areas within the split-level school site.

The group came up with three solutions.

One, a nursery, was used to grow flax and coprosma for planting on banks and slopes leading to the junior school area after the children learned vegetation helped hold unstable earth in place.

Solution two called for installation of wooden playground surrounds, paid for by the school, to stop play area bark washing into stormwater drains and causing blockages.

The team then produced their own Flood-Fighters brochure, saying what they were doing and why, and giving tips on reducing flooding in streams and rivers in the local flood-prone Awanui River catchment area.

Competition in Kentucky for Ahipara and Kaitaia children will come from similar-aged problem solvers in teams representing most American states, Canada, Australia and Korea.

At age 9, Flynn Cribb is the youngest community problem solver to represent New Zealand. He's been chosen to carry the New Zealand flag at the championship's opening ceremony.

"I've been counting down the hours in the last five days," he said.

Finding solutions

* Two Northland schools will represent New Zealand at the world Community Problem Solving championships.
* Ahipara School won for an environmental project to help the badly polluted Wairoa Stream running behind the school to 90 Mile Beach. They are: Nikita Williams, 13, twins Chloe and Derryn Manga, 11, Hannah Kiley, 12, Brydie Colquhoun, 12, Aimee Irving-Pene, 12, Darryl Smith, 14, and Danielle Morrogh 13.
* Kaitaia Primary won for trying to minimise flooding in low-lying areas around the school. Known as the Flood-Fighters, they are: Whitney Peat, 11, Jessica Matthews, 11, brothers Floyd Cribb, 10, and Flynn Cribb, 9, Matt Riley, 10, and Bodine Thompson, 11.