Kaitiaki of our coast!

This week, Māhutonga Matariki took a trip down to Worser Bay Beach, where we took turns sailing and exploring the coastline. 

Year 5/6 students proved themselves to be great leaders and encouragers of our Year 4 students, for some of whom had not experienced sailing before. 

As the day progressed, we transitioned from sailing to a different kind of exploration – delving into the mysteries of marine life with a plankton net. As kaitiaki of the coast, we test the health of the marine ecosystems. With guidance from experts of the Moanamana team, we dipped our net into the water, eager to uncover the hidden inhabitants of the ocean. 

To our amazement, our nets yielded a diverse array of plankton, tiny organisms that play a crucial role in the ocean's ecosystem. Through careful observation and identification, we gained insights into the health of the ocean around Worser Bay. We investigated the health of the rock pools as well, with some fascinating discoveries of peculiar and otherworldly creatures.