Kiwi project provides inspirational learning in Te Teko

Omataroa Kiwi Project has been working for the last 10 years to protect the Eastern brown kiwi. Photo / File

The partnership of forestry company Rayonier Matariki Forests and Omataroa Kiwi Project will provide an inspirational new learning opportunity for children at Te Kura o Te Teko School.

Omataroa Kiwi Project, a kiwi conservation initiative developed by the trustees of Omataroa Rangitaiki 2 Trust, has been working for the past 10 years to protect the Eastern brown kiwi in the Puhikoko Reserve and the wider 7700 hectares within Eastern Bay of Plenty's Omataroa Forest.

In collaboration with Rayonier Matariki Forests, which manages the production forest within Omataroa, the Te Teko Texas Rangers initiative was developed to provide a unique opportunity for senior students at Te Teko School to learn about kiwi conservation and the wider biodiversity of Omataroa Forest through an outdoor educational programme.

Omataroa-Rangitaiki No 2 Trustee, Waaka Vercoe said the initiative would not only provide invaluable conservation education but it also aims to enable the children to connect with their whenua through a Matauranga Maori approach.

"Our tamariki are the kaitiaki who will lead this conservation work in the future and we hope to nurture their love for the whenua and understand the responsibilities that they hold as Kaitiaki.

"The programme will cover many aspects of Maori culture and traditions, as well as a hands-on role in protecting the environment and wider bio-diversity," he said.

Rayonier Matariki Forests has been working with Omataroa Kiwi Project for some years to help with predator control.

A closer relationship and increased support of the project has seen the company take an active role in funding and facilitating the forest visits.

Rayonier Matariki Forests managing director Brendan Slui said they were very excited to be a part of this special initiative.

"The forestry industry has a significant role to play in environmental stewardship and this is one way we can contribute."

To deliver the objectives of the programme, project leaders have engaged Ian Tarei of Omataroa Kaitiaki who has been involved with Omataroa Kiwi Project since its inception.

The educational framework will be implemented by a series of forest visits where the children will learn about their land, the different flora and fauna and the importance of protecting them, along with practical lessons in predator control and kiwi health checks and egg lifts.

They will also visit Kiwi Encounters in Rotorua to see the kiwi chick hatchery and gain an understanding of the life cycle of kiwi.

Te Kura o Te Teko School principal Tony Holland said it was an incredible opportunity for the children to build skills and knowledge as future guardians of the land, resources and taonga.

"We hope these experiences will inspire future aspirations and opportunities as the children transition to secondary school and beyond."

The pilot programme, which consists of eight sessions across Terms 3 and 4 of this year, will then be assessed with a view to continuing it for future senior students at the school.