Nature Day with Blockhouse Bay at Olympic Park
In June 2024, 30 students from Blockhouse Bay Intermediate School planted grasses in wetlands near the Waitahurangi Stream, an inanga (whitebait) spawning ground. Large sections of the stream are underground, but there is section above ground at Olympic Park in New Lynn, within walking distance of the school.
Students were given gloves, spades and a native grass. They were then given the Digging-A-Hole 101 talk that is the centrepiece of our Nature Days.
How to plant a plant (a guide for kids!)
- Use the tip of the spade to cut a square in the dirt, don’t forget to put your foot on the back of the spade for extra oomph!
- Lift out the square of dirt
- Loosen the plant in its pot by gently squeezing the pot
- Plant comes out of pot
- Plant goes in ground
- Extra gaps filled by putting dirt around plant and patting into place
- Everyone happy and plant is extra happy!
Angus Campbell, from The Whau River Catchment Trust, with the help of Tonya Wyatt from Te Whau Pathway Project, engaged the kids in water quality testing activities using a few of his favourite accessories shown below. The eye magnifiers are super useful for looking at stream life up close. The turbidity tubes are used for checking water clarity.
As part of the activity rotation, there was an opportunity to sculpt using clay provided by Whau the People. Floral additions were optional!
Students also discovered a wide variety of creatures in and around the stream. In this short video, Pamela from EcoMatters shares some highlights of the day, including seeing an eel!
About our Nature Days
Te Whau Pathway Project organises Nature Days in the Whau Catchment Area to get outdoors, plant, and learn about the unique natural environment beyond the school gates. Nature Days aims to connect people with their local environment.
Photo gallery
About this event
| Date | Friday 7th June 2024 |
| Location | Olympic Park, New Lynn |
| Type | Environment, Awa Connection, Art, Schools |
| Who | Blockhouse Bay Intermediate, EcoMatters, Whau the People, The Whau River Catchment Trust |
| Funders | Te Whau Pathway Project |
