HomeProject Details
What is this programme about?
This outreach programme began with students from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori ō Wairarapa and their local ngahere, Fensham Reserve. Led by Outreach Coordinator Meikura Arahanga and early career researchers from Bioprotection Aotearoa, students explored how to recognise signs of ecosystem health and how to respond to threats like myrtle rust and kauri dieback (Phytophthora agathidicida).
Students used digital tools like iNaturalist to monitor biodiversity, learned about good hygiene practices to prevent disease spread, and connected their learning to their own whenua. Later, two students extended this journey with a visit to Glenfern Sanctuary on Aotea (Great Barrier Island), where they deepened their understanding of kauri health and whakapapa alongside local kaumātua Rodney Ngawaka (Ngātiwai Nui Tonu).
Why is this important?
This programme helps kura connect with local ecosystems while building awareness of the threats facing our native forests. It strengthens the role of rangatahi as environmental kaitiaki and shows how mātauranga Māori and science can work together to care for the taiao.
Outcomes
- Increased student understanding of native ecosystems and forest health
- Strengthened biosecurity awareness and practical skills (e.g. forest hygiene)
- Connected rangatahi with scientists, tools, and cultural knowledge systems
- Deepened understanding of whakapapa, whenua, and the impacts of introduced pathogens
Resources
Watch the Videos
Video | Te Reo Māori
Whai mai i ēnei tauira mai i te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Wairarapa
Whai mai i ēnei tauira mai i te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Wairarapa, i a rāua e kuhu ana ki ngā whenua taurikura o te Wairarapa me ngā ngahere ki te moutere o Aotea.
Video | Bilingual, English and Te Reo Māori
Biosecurity Risks and Rewards in Wetland and Forest Ecosystems
Join the students of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Wairarapa on a journey through their precious wetlands and the ngahere of Aotea. See the natural world through their eyes as they share their deep connection to te taiao.
Read the Media Release
Media Release | Can you pronounce Phytophthora agathidicida?
Students from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Wairarapa stepped into wetlands and ngahere to learn about biosecurity, forest health, and the complexity of ecosystems. Their journey — and what it means for Bioprotection Aotearoa’s outreach — is captured in a powerful new media release.
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