Local students rewarded for conservation passion

New Plymouth locals Eve Cross and Matilda Randall recently attended a coveted trip to one of New Zealand’s most stunning marine reserves: the Poor Knights Islands. 

The group at Poor Knight’s - Image by Lorna Dougan

The trip, run by Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust,  gives young Kiwis the chance to immerse themselves in the Poor Knights marine area. Jaques Cousteau labelled it one of the world’s top ten dive sites, making it a special experience for the students who attend.

Matilda and Eve joined 29 other students from around New Zealand who had created outstanding action plans, or shown significant interest as part of Mountains to Sea’s ‘Experiencing Marine Reserves’ programme.

Ready to jump in!

Ngā Motu Marine Reserve Society (NMMRS) delivers the Experiencing Marine Reserves programme in Taranaki, and runs the programme at four to six schools each year. Highlands Intermediate Marine Studies teacher and NMMRS committee member, Pat Swanson, was thrilled with Eve and Matilda's contributions as a result of their participation in the programme.

"Each year, I'm lucky to work with passionate tamariki who care deeply about our moana and kaitiakitanga. Eve and Matilda stood out with their strong commitment - as well as their artistic abilities. A highlight of the programme is that it engages not just the kids, but their whānau too.”

Eve and Matilda both created artworks that they use to help share their messages to the wider community.

Matilda says, "My art project was about the difference between what it's like in a marine reserve and out of the marine reserve.”

Her mum, Belinda, felt really lucky to be able to accompany her daughter on the trip. "We've just had such an amazing experience. It's been incredible to be able to see a place that we otherwise probably would never have gone to, and to be able to see the incredible things that are in that environment.”

Eve and her mum Rachel were blown away by the underwater life. "I was on the boat thinking there's not gonna be anything under there and then as soon as I went under, I was like, wow. That was a lot of color and fish straight away. In the cave, the sponges on the walls and the light coming through."

“I always get such a kick from seeing the spark of passion in the students’ eyes after one of our snorkels. That’s when you know they know our ocean is worth fighting for”, says Taranaki Regional Coordinator, Rachel Eckersley.

“It’s fantastic to see the innovative, passion-driven action plans our tamariki come up with each year,” says Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust Poutokomanawa (Co-Director) Sarama Nicholas.

 “A protected marine space like the Poor Knights shows them what effective conservation can achieve, and hopefully instills a lifelong sense of kaitiakitanga,” she says.

The trip, supported by DIVE! Tutukaka, Bobby Stafford-Bush Foundation, and Wettie wetsuits, is in its 24th year. Nicholas is confident it will continue long into the future.

“We’re hopeful it will keep going for another quarter century. It’s so vital we inspire our young environmental leaders, and give them the chance to protect our oceans for future generations.”