Northland Leg - First Report

Kia Ora
We started at Shipwreck Bay were we put the first sign just as you go onto the beach. There we were interviewed by Peter Jackson from the Northland Age and another lady from the Northern news. Both myself and Richard from the environment centre gave them as much information as we possibly could. We then headed down to the next spot were we thought would be a good place to put a sign up which was the next on ramp were you drive onto the beach. We travelled there by van which carried our signs and gear as well as two of our students riding along the beach on a couple of horses to symbolise the use of low impact/co2 transport. We changed riders at intervals. Next stop was the on ramp at Ahipara then the Stream that flows out of Lake Waimimiha and finally the on Ramp at Waipapakauri. Five signs were put up in total at strategic places along the beach. Already the high tides in our area have started to wear away at the sand banks along the shoreline making them steep and so it was difficult to put up signs unless they were in the places such as the ramps/river which were low access points onto the beach. Respect for our signs were evident in that all 5 are still standing and feedback has been positive. Two good articles appeared in the Northland age and the Northern news the following week. All in all it was a good day out at the beach were we were able to enjoy some horse riding as well as help in delivering an important message to the Community. As tangata whenua of Muriwhenua we hope to be able to assist you in any future projects regarding the Climate Change and hope all the other roopus enjoyed themselves as much as we did. Our group included Mane Tangitu, Wairua Mane, Wolfgram Oxborugh, Hohemi Howard, Meinata Robson all students on the Conservation Corp myself and Richard from the environment centre.

Cheers Mike