Freshwater Exploration with Kaukapakapa School

On Tuesday, 30th July, Angela, the Trust Kaipara Moana Field Agent, joined Aileen Sweeney and Kate McKessar from Mountains to Sea – Whitebait Connection for an engaging Freshwater Education field trip with Year 5/6 students from Kaukapakapa School.

The group gathered at the beautiful Kahikatea forest remnant adjacent to the school, where a small tributary flows into the Kaukapakapa River and eventually reaches the Kaipara Moana. Aileen led the students through a macroinvertebrate assessment, teaching them how these creatures can indicate the health of a stream. Kate demonstrated how to perform stream health tests using water samples collected from the stream.

Angela conducted a hands-on Habitat Assessment with the students, guiding them through the five C’s—Clean, Cool, Clear, Current, and Creatures.

This practical exercise allowed the students to evaluate the stream’s condition and understand important environmental indicators. They discussed their observations and learned about sediment – its origins, effects on stream health, and its impact on the Kaipara Moana ecosystem.

A highlight of the day was the discovery of mature inanga in the stream, which significantly deepened the students’ connection to the Kaipara Moana and reinforced their understanding of the inanga lifecycle.

Despite the weather causing the cancellation of the scheduled planting day, the students gained valuable insights and a stronger bond with their local environment.