This week we have been working alongside Nina from Whitebait Connection. We have been looking at our local fresh water environment and ways that we can help keep our waterways clean. We are specifically focusing on a native whitebait species that we find here in the Far North. Its called the Inaga- it is the smallest of the 4 whitebait species that we have in New Zealand and it really needs our help to survive. We looked at the life cycle of a whitebait, ways to identify a healthy and unhealthy fresh water environment and ways that we can help keep our fresh water environments healthy so that the number of Inaga will increase. Next term we are going to a farm neighboring our school to do a case study on the Mangatete Stream (our local stream/estuary). The stream runs through the farm and the farmers are doing things to help improve the health of the stream for example planting trees and plants along the bank. We will test water quality identify the marine life and remove any fish or bugs that are harmful to our native marine species. We will then come up with an action plan so we can raise awareness and take action in our community to help improve the freshwater streams we have.WATCH THIS SPACE!!!
Here are some pictures of us learning how to use the tools to test the water health.
