Inanga Restoration Project
Our Inanga Restoration Project is an additional freshwater program that focuses specifically on the most common whitebait species, the inanga. NMTT have delivered this project to a range of different schools within the Tairawhiti region over the last two years.
This project consists of:
1. Initial meeting with teachers to collaborate on learning outcomes and confirm dates which align with their schedules. This project can be adapted to coincide with specific learning contexts, therefore, an initial meeting can determine the delivery of this project.
2. Classroom session: NMTT staff will deliver a power point presentation to discuss the project outline, introduce whitebait to the students with a specific focus on the inanga species, learn the inanga life cycle and their habitat requirements for survival and spawning.
3. Field Trip 1: NMTT staff will plan and deliver a field trip to a freshwater stream or river to introduce the students to the equipment and what we are looking for at a specific inanga spawning site. This site visit is for students to compare results between a spawning site and non spawning site to acknowledge differences and what is needed for the restoration component of this project.
4. Field trip 2: NMTT staff will plan and deliver a field trip to a known inanga spawning site within the region where students will look specifically at the habitat that is required for successful inanga spawning. This will allow students to acknowledge whether this site indicates good spawning habitat and is in good condition, indicates that the habitat is ok and would be better with improvements or if it indicates that spawning is unlikely to occur and definitely needs improvements. This then leads into the next section where we determine what is needed for successful spawning.
5. Classroom session: NMTT staff will plan another classroom session to discuss and look at the results from both site visits. The inanga spawning site information and data recorded by students should reveal where the improvements need to occur. For example, in Term 2 2017, a school who participated in this project identified that the sediment settling on the bottom of the stream and on the sides of the banks were detrimental to the survival of inanga eggs. Therefore, we planted over 800 native trees along the sides of the bank to stabilise them and prevent any more erosion in that area.
6. Maintain and monitor the site: Planting any trees or plants need to be monitored and maintained for their survival, therefore, NMTT plan dates for visiting the site to weed and mulch around the plants and checking for any pests that may be in the area. This could then lead into a pest control project if this is a problem in that area.
This project has been aligned with the Science NZ Curriculum and we have produced a resource document incorporating each science achievement objective. This has been produced around level 3 and 4, however, it can be adapted to all year levels. All resources referred to in the attached document below are provided to teachers on a USB or through an online forum.
Inanga Restoration Project - NZ Curriculum
If you have any questions or would like to know any more details regarding this project, please do not hesitate to contact Amy-Rose Hardy on the details below.
0277139152amyhardy@nmtt.co.nz
79 Paraone Road, Tamarau, Gisborne 4010
