Create opportunities for students to become curious about repo (wetlands). New Zealand has lost around 90% of its wetlands so students may not be aware of their existence, their importance as ecosystems and their importance as taonga to Māori.
The National Wetland Trust of New Zealand has a list of wetland trails open to the public. There are lots of smaller wetlands on public lands – contact your local council for more information. It is also worthwhile asking the local community about wetlands on private properties or farms. Under policies such as the Sustainable Dairying: Water Accord, wetlands on farms are being fenced, protected and restored. Stream and rivercare groups may also know of local wetlands and restorations programmes.
Te Reo o Te Repo – The Voice of the Wetland is an online handbook for wetland restoration. A strong feature of the handbook is the knowledge that can be gained from whānau, hapū and iwi about the history of local repo and associated mātauranga Māori.
Resources
- Wetlands – article
- Wetland restoration – article
- Cultural indicators for repo – article
- Ruru and repo restoration – article
- Monitoring kōura – article
- Wetland plants – article
- Wetland animals – article
- Wetland (repo) connections – ecological and cultural perspectives – activity
- Water quality – factors and issues – article
- Our use of water – impacts on water quality – interactive
- Land use – impacts on waterways – interactive
Questions to consider
- Are there wetlands in our local area?
- Were there once wetlands in our local area?
- How can we find out what plants and animals might have been here before land use changed the landscape?
- Why are wetlands important as habitats?
- Why are wetlands important for people?
- What are the issues affecting wetlands?
- How do these issues affect plant and animal species?
- How do these issues affect humans?
- What do we already know about these issues?
- What is our vision for the future of our repo?
Culturally significant plants in a wetland, © Monica Peters. Sourced from Te Reo o Te Repo – The Voice of the Wetland.
