In collaboration with Love Rimurimu, from the Mountains to Sea Trust, the National Aquarium proudly presents an immersive exhibition shedding light on the vital role of seaweed in our marine environments.
There are carefully recreated different species so people can see how seaweed can be, without us damaging real algae.
Meet the Guardians – showcasing six distinct seaweed species, each with its own story to tell. From the majestic bull kelp to the delicate sea lettuce, giving insight into the diverse world of marine flora.
Walk Among Giants – immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of a simulated kelp forest. Feel the sway of the towering kelp as you move through this recreated habitat, gaining a deeper appreciation for the intricate balance of life beneath the surface.
Uncover the Secrets – discover how these underwater forests provide sanctuary for countless marine creatures, combat climate change by absorbing CO2, and safeguard our precious coastlines.
Kelp Yourself to Our Sea Forest Quiz – find the facts and answer the online quiz as you journey through the aquarium. Great prizes are up for grabs.
Entry to this exhibition is included in the General Admission ticket.
Location: National Aquarium of New Zealand, Marine Parade, Napier
For more information: www.nationalaquarium.co.nz/visit/forests-of-the-sea
Related content
Love Rimurimu – an ocean of potential for seaweed is a year-long inquiry supported by Mountains to Sea – with exploration in the classroom and in the field. You can also dip into resources covering biodiversity, human impacts and restoration for short-term studies. Several resources are in te reo Māori, courtesy of Te Aho Tū Roa.
The citizen science project Floating Forests needs the help of citizen scientists to identify kelp forests from satellite images.
Discover the mātauranga that underpins pōhā – bags made from rimurapa, a species of bull kelp, that preserve tītī (muttonbirds) for up to 2 years.
Kelp forests feature in the infographics housed in the New Zealand marine habitats interactive.
The Threats to marine habitats interactive displays some of the stressors that kelp forests face in Aotearoa and globally.
Not all threats are caused by humans. The 2016 Kaikōura earthquake exposed kelp forests. The article Kelp forests after the Kaikōura earthquake provides information on many of kelps’ ecosystem services and why scientists are keen to research the impacts caused by the earthquake.
See our Seaweed and algae Pinterest board for more resource ideas.
