Whanganui’s Tarapuruhi Bushy Park forms youth group as teen interest increases

The group will meet every second Sunday.

Growing teen interest in Whanganui’s Tarapuruhi Bushy Park has sparked the formation of a new youth group, adding a social aspect to the great outdoors.

The sanctuary’s education co-ordinator, Michaella Luxton, said 2189 students attended its education programme last year.

“We’ve had a lot of interest from young people to become part of the volunteer and learning community out there,” she said.

“However, our wonderful volunteers, who put in around 500 hours a month, do it on a Tuesday and a Thursday during school hours.”

She said the youth group would meet every second Sunday.

“Primarily, we’ll be meeting at Bushy Park, but there will be other locations too, like Gordon’s Bush [Gordon Park Scenic Reserve] and Castlecliff Beach.”

The sanctuary, about 23km northwest of Whanganui, is free to visit and designated an icon biodiversity site by Horizons Regional Council.

As well as planting, weeding and socialising, the group would learn about New Zealand’s native ecosystem, Luxton said.

“We’ll do lots of wildlife surveys and mātauranga Māori – what we can use all our really cool plants for.

“Whatever it is, there will be an aspect of fun and learning behind it.”

She said the group, Rangatahi Rangers, was aimed at teenagers because Forest & Bird’s Kiwi Conservation Club catered to those aged 5 to 12.

“I’m not sporty or musical, and lots of extra-curricular things offered to our teens never really grabbed me when I was their age.

“We have a community of kids out there [who] love the outdoors, exploring, contributing and learning.

“If I could have been put in a group with other kids who shared the same passion, I would have been really happy.”

She would run it alongside long-time Bushy Park board member and educator Keith Beautrais, who would contribute “his wealth of knowledge”, Luxton said.

“You’ll be with like-minded kids, so you might make a few new friends along the way.”

Most schools doing the education programme were based in Whanganui but it was starting to attract some from further afield, locations such as Palmerston North and Pātea, she said.

A $15,100 grant from Whanganui District Council’s climate action fund helps with the programme’s costs.

The new youth group meets for the first time at Tarapuruhi Bushy Park on January 26 from 10am to 2pm, with a $2 cost.

For more information, email education@bushypark.nz.

Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present, his focus is local government, primarily Whanganui District Council.