Freshwater Champion celebrations

We had two special celebrations to acknowledge the award Whaea Alice Heather won in the annual Cawthron 2024 Freshwater Champions awards – the award recognised her work with rangatahi.  

The school put on scones for morning tea and some lovely speeches were made about the work Alice has spearheaded over the last 12 years.  We also had a wonderful kaitahi at the pa harakeke o Ngā Uri o Pākoti. Three native trees were planted – a pūriri, a kahikatea and a koromiko and a plaque marks the award and the mahi.  Big thanks to Matt Coldicutt for making this plaque.  It was also extra special to see the past students and staff that came in for the event.

The work has involved many people over the years, it started with a humble planting with a few students and over the years has built into a network of people and streams of work.  The “why” for Alice and all the WSCW staff involved has always been about engaging and upskilling our rangatahi.  It is through sheer determination that we are beginning to see a thriving ngahere on the banks of the Waitītiko.

So.. what does this mahi include?
Annual planting of native plants. Weeding and culling of invasive weeds as well as rubbish clean up.
The establishment and maintenance of a  pa harakeke
Water testing
Maintaining a predator trapline which has removed 206 rats, possums and mice from the ngahere.
Engaging with Whitebait Connection with the installation of hay bales for spawning inanga.

Huge thanks to everyone involved in this amazing project, you have all been a pleasure to work with.

Ka ora te whenua, ka ora te tāngata.
When the land is well the people are well.