PARTICIPATORY SCIENCE PLATFORM - TARANAKI UPDATE 2018 - Venture Taranaki
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HE HIHIRI I TE MAHARA
PARTICIPATORY
SCIENCE PLATFORM
TARANAKI UPDATE 2018
CURIOUS MINDS IS A GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE JOINTLY LED BY THE MINISTRY OF
BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND EMPLOYMENT AND THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
AND THE OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER’S CHIEF SCIENCE ADVISOR
CURIOUS MINDS
PARTICIPATORY SCIENCE PLATFORM AT A GLANCE
COMMUNITY GROUPS HAVE
COLLABORATED WITH
70
DIFFERENT SCIENCE &
23
TECHNOLOGY EXPERTS PROJECTS FUNDED
35
SCHOOLS INVOLVED
>1000
PEOPLE ENGAGED IN
IN LOCAL RESEARCH SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
CONTENTS
Project Case Studies 4
Waitara Kaimoana Survey 4
Te Moeone – Growing for the Future 5
Kiwi Presence in Egmont National Park 6
Introduction 2 Project Ultra – Pekapeka in Purangi 7
Criteria 3 Project Reef Life – South Taranaki 8
Project Hotspot 9
Stone vs. Metal: the Motunui panels revealed 10
12
DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNITIES
ENGAGED IN PARTICIPATORY
SCIENCE PROJECTS
SCIENCE &
TECHNOLOGY
DISCIPLINES UNDER
INVESTIGATION
N
$370,000
DISTRIBUTED IN TARANAKI
CAPOW! Curious About Processing Organic Waste 11 Toko School Distillation Investigation 19
Maru Wai Matara 12 A Pesky Problem – Te Namu Hakirara 20
Full Steam ahead! 13 Dotterel Defenders 21
Rev It 14 Inanga Ora Ki Te Awa O Waitara 22
South Taranaki Project Earth 15 Tracking Fur Babies in Taranaki 23
Ko Nga Kowhitiwhiti 16 Schoolyard Blues 24
Pest Trapping in the Makahu Valley 17 Bug ALERT! 25
Project Wi-Finding 18 For More Information 25
CURIOUS MINDS
INTRODUCTION
S cience and technology are critical for enhancing living
standards through economic growth and improving
social and environmental outcomes. Today, science is
embedded in the many decisions policy makers, business,
individuals and societies must make. Societies with strong
The emphasis on collaboration provides educational opportunity
for both sides of the project partnership. Community groups
benefit from the expertise and experience of their science and
technology sector partners, while the science and technology
experts benefit from the local knowledge and cultural
‘science capital’ sustain more innovative economies and have understanding of the community groups.
a greater awareness of both the opportunities and limits of
Venture Taranaki is leading the Participatory Science Platform
science in development and wellbeing. Science is central
in Taranaki, funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and
to the many global challenges we face (from environmental
Employment. Either a community group or science sector based
challenges to an aging and increasingly urban population, for
partner may apply to Venture Taranaki for funding to support their
instance).
research project. Any type of community group is able to apply
The Curious Minds Participatory Science Platform (PSP) is – these may include students, schools, kura, community-based
designed to encourage communities, particularly young people, organisations, businesses or Māori organisations and collectives.
educators and scientists to work together on collaborative
science projects so that people become more enthused and
informed about the role science plays in their lives.
2 “Participatory science is a way of doing scientific research where community volunteers,
including schools and kura, can be meaningfully involved at all stages of research projects
in collaboration with scientists.
The Participatory Science Platform (PSP), started in 2015, forms part of the Government’s
national strategic plan for Science in Society, A Nation of Curious Minds – He Whenua Hihiri
I Te Mahara (the Plan).
The Plan aims to encourage and enable better engagement with science and technology
across New Zealand. The projects funded to date in the three regions (Taranaki, Otago and
South Auckland) are diverse, but their commonality is that they are building lasting science
engagement, relationships and networks between the community, education sector and the
science sector.
The opportunity to address locally relevant topics using science and technology is
empowering communities and providing important and interesting in-context learning
opportunities for young and old.”
– Dr. Victoria Metcalf, National Coordinator of the Participatory Science Platform.
PARTICIPATORY SCIENCE PLATFORM TARANAKI UPDATE 2018
CRITERIA
PARTICIPATORY SCIENCE PROJECTS MUST BE:
EDUCATIONALLY LOCALLY SCIENTIFICALLY 3
VALUABLE RELEVANT ROBUST
Offer enduring educational value Will involve community members The project will tackle a substantive
and two-way learning opportunities in research that is engaging and scientific question in active
for those involved. locally relevant and at least in part partnership with a scientist or
be driven by community-based technology expert.
champions.
Since 2015 twenty three projects have been funded in Taranaki through the Curious Minds PSP. Projects to date have focussed
on a wide variety of science and technology disciplines from ecology to electric vehicle engineering. Their stories feature on the
following pages.
CURIOUS MINDS
PROJECT CASE STUDIES
WAITARA KAIMOANA SURVEY
O taraua Hapu and Waitara Alive conducted a study
investigating the presence of kaimoana along the
Waitara coastline. Working with marine scientists,
members of the community learned how to identify different
marine species and what these species mean for the health of
Oral histories of the reefs from kaumātua and community elders
were also captured on video. These along with the results from
the kaimoana survey were shared with the community in a pop-up
shop in Waitara at the end of October 2016.
The results, displayed in the pop-up shop showed that paua was
our reefs.
more abundant in the 2016 survey than in 2001, however most
The project draws on the work of previous Otaraua leaders who paua found were smaller than the legal size. Both mussels and
undertook an initial survey of Kaimoana stocks in 2001. The 2016 pupu were less abundant in 2016 compared to 2001.
survey used the same methodology and endeavoured through the
One powerful element of this project was the way it compared
use of GPS to survey the exact same (or very near to it) locations.
scientific result to community observation.
The project captured a photo record of the life and structure of
The project team are aiming to repeat this survey in early 2018.
the reef, making use of the online database NatureWatch NZ.
This provides a means of visually seeing how the reef evolves
over time.
4
2015
Photo: Vicky Dombroski
PARTICIPATORY SCIENCE PLATFORM TARANAKI UPDATE 2018
2015 5
TE MOEONE – GROWING FOR THE FUTURE
N gati Tawhirikura Hapu teamed up with horticultural
scientists, crop technicians and soil specialists to
explore how horticultural science could be used
by community and home-based gardeners. Community
participants included Tāhuri Whenua (Māori Vegetable
nutrition of their crops. Participants were able to develop a
greater understanding of the benefits of growing food locally
and effective soil management. Particular emphasis was placed
on the impacts on whanau health and wellbeing as well as
acknowledgement and support for personal responsibility and
Growers Association), Taranaki Seedsavers and gardeners kaitiakitanga of soil, food, and seed resources.
from Tarereare, Muru Raupatu and Parihaka marae. The home
The project culminated with harvest and testing of the chosen
of the project was Katere Marae’s amazing vegetable garden
vegetables for their nutritional properties. There is potential to
which grew three heirloom vegetable varieties as the focus of
continue this monitoring into the future to track the health of
the study – a squash, a red onion and a kumara.
the soil and the changes in vegetable nutrition. The project also
Members of the community and garden enthusiasts learned produced a growing and nutrition guide for their four profiled
about the chemistry of soil, horticultural techniques and the vegetable cultivars including a snapshot of current soil analysis,
characteristics of different vegetables and how to apply this vegetable nutrition, plant anatomy, growing preferences, and
science to their own gardens to build the long-term yield and disease management.
CURIOUS MINDS
6
2015
KIWI PRESENCE IN EGMONT NATIONAL PARK
T aranaki Kiwi Trust led a project to explore the impact
of the Egmont National Park Kiwi Conservation
Programme. Working with biodiversity and ecological
science experts, the Trust engaged a number of community
groups including Taranaki Conservationists, New Plymouth
Students from Ngaere School helped to design the survey
methods and trial recorder technology. They analysed data from
recorder surveys and explored what the study’s findings mean for
biodiversity and kiwi conservation.
Results from the project show a relatively low number of kiwi
Tramping Club, Taranaki Alpine Club, Forest and Bird Taranaki,
present in the Egmont National Park. However, the majority of kiwi
Mt Egmont Alpine Club and local schools and iwi to survey the
that were recorded were located in the predator controlled area of
National Park to identify kiwi numbers and preferred location.
the park which is a positive result for the trapping programme.
Volunteers undertook walk-through and kiwi call recorder surveys
The project also has support from Taranaki Electricity Trust and
and the project will culminate in the release of kiwi tagged
Kiwis for Kiwi.
with radio-tracking technology into the park. Information was
gathered on where kiwi are present in the National Park and which
areas of the park are most suitable for future kiwi release and
conservation efforts.
PARTICIPATORY SCIENCE PLATFORM TARANAKI UPDATE 2018
2015 7
PROJECT ULTRA – PEKAPEKA IN PURANGI
P rimary school students measured long-tailed bat
populations in Eastern Taranaki as part of Project Ultra.
Led by the East Taranaki Environment Trust, the project
involved students from Kaimata School investigating six
different habitat sites to determine where bats are and look
area. These need to be monitored regularly to see whether bat
colonisation has occurred.
Project Ultra benefits from a wide variety of learning formats
garnering involvement and enthusiasm from all age groups.
The project takes advantage of the experience of Natural
at how man-made bat shelters can best be made to simulate
Capital ecologist Sian Portier, with Marshall Day Acoustics, the
natural nesting conditions in these locations.
Department of Conservation and the Taranaki Regional Council
A key outcome of the project was to raise awareness of the issues also advising on equipment and application.
surrounding bat population decline and how landowners can be
The East Taranaki Environment Trust has developed this project
encouraged and enthused to think about the native biodiversity
into a unit that can be replicated providing continued monitoring
that their land supports. So far the project has produced 11 bat
of the bats, and educational opportunity for other schools to take
roost boxes which have been erected within the ETET project
advantage of. The Trust aims to deliver this project again in 2018.
CURIOUS MINDS
8
2015/16
PROJECT REEF LIFE – SOUTH TARANAKI
W hat makes the subtidal reefs of Taranaki unique?
The South Taranaki Underwater Club is leading a
project to answer this question by exploring and
documenting the marine life present on a reef off the coast
of Patea. Marine scientists are helping community members
colourful sponges, bryozoans, anemones, hydroids, sea squirts,
large amounts of encrusting and foliose algae, crustaceans like
crabs and crayfish, sea urchins, nudibranchs, sea cucumbers,
all types of fish (even some visiting Australian species), resident
carpet sharks, eagle rays, Eddy the resident conger eel and the
undertake a range of survey methods, including benthic list could go on. The project has already captured some fantastic
surveys (looking at organisms living on the reef e.g. anemones), images of the colourful and diverse reef ecosystem – check out
hook and line surveys (predatory fish), collection of plankton, their Facebook page for more images:
secchi disk (water transparency), and the use of a hydrophone https://www.facebook.com/projectreeflife/
(to record the underwater soundscape). A highlight of the
The Reef Life project won a Taranaki Regional Council
project is the installation of a proto-type underwater video
Environmental Award for environmental action in the community
camera on the reef. Community partners in the project include,
in 2016 and in 2017 the project was given national recognition
Te Kaahui o Rauru and Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui Trust and the
winning the Ministry for the Environment’s Green Ribbon award in
Hawera High School and Patea Area School.
the ‘protecting our coasts and oceans’ category. Project members
Students from Hawera High School and Patea Area School have also worked with the TRC to get the Project Reef recognised as
had charter boat trips out to the reef (which lies 11km offshore) ‘outstanding’ in the draft Coastal Plan.
where they have conducted hook and line surveys. Results so far
A highlight in 2017 was the Project presenting at Parliament’s
have shown a dominant population of blue cod. Students have
Education and Science Select Committee.
also had classroom sessions with the project’s marine biologists,
learning to analyse their own hook and line results as well as those Whilst the Project has its own marine scientist, there are many
collected through other survey methods. collaborations with specialist marine experts around NZ. The
local DOC senior ranger is also kept abreast of Project findings.
The project has already done a fantastic job of cataloguing a
Species documented at the Project Reef are loaded into a
diverse range of species previously unknown to many people
publically available database ‘NatureWatch NZ’ with 88 species as
in the local community. Organisms found on the reef include
at November 2017.PARTICIPATORY SCIENCE PLATFORM TARANAKI UPDATE 2018
2015/16 9
PROJECT HOTSPOT
N gā Motu Marine Reserve Society teamed up with
local marine science experts, TRC, MAIN Trust NZ,
Taranaki Conservationists, Oakura School, Highlands
Intermediate, Manaia School, Auroa School, Hawera
Intermediate, and Coastal Taranaki School. The project
in an end-user workshop where people from industry,
regulatory authorities, local business, and other community
groups were invited. The students presented the findings from
their investigations to those people who can actually use the
information to make positive changes for our coastal threatened
seeks to harness local knowledge on the presence of coastal species.
threatened species around Taranaki. The four key species the
This is a great example of an action-based project which provides
project focusses on are, orca, NZ fur seal, reef heron, and little
a two-way learning environment where students, science
blue penguin.
partners, local industry, business and other community groups
School students interviewed coastal recreation groups, friends, can share knowledge and results.
family and the wider community to capture sightings of the four
Project Hotspot won a Taranaki Regional Council Environmental
species. This information was uploaded to NatureWatch NZ which
Award for Environmental Action in Education.
is an online database of life. Sighting information was mapped
using GIS, and students then identified where hotspots of these Project Hotspot continued in 2017 with a grant from the ‘Unlocking
four species occur. With guidance from scientists the students Curious Minds’ fund.
formulated hypotheses about why these hotspots occur where https://www.hotspot.org.nz/
they do and what potential threats exist at these locations.
https://www.facebook.com/projecthotspotnz/
Students were taken on a field excursion to a local beach and
encouraged to develop action projects. The project culminatedCURIOUS MINDS
STONE VS. METAL: THE MOTUNUI PANELS REVEALED
– LED BY PUKE ARIKI
F or over 100 years anthropologists, ethnologists, and
wood carvers have been debating if it is possible to tell
whether a Māori carving has been done from stone or
metal tools. The recent repatriation of the Motunui epa to
Taranaki has revived debate around whether or not they were
This project was led by Puke Ariki and involved students from
Manukōrihi Intermediate, local master carvers and science
partner Dr Russell Beck (NZ’s foremost expert in nephrite).
Students explored the properties of traditional pounamu carving
tools and compared these with their metal counterparts. The
carved with stone or metal tools. The Stone vs. Metal project project culminated in a two-day workshop that saw master
was designed to try and replicate carved components of the carvers using traditional pounamu tools to replicate the designs
Motunui panels using nephrite and metal chisels carried out seen on the Motunui pataka panels. This project provided a good
on ‘green’ totara (favoured timber types in Taranaki). blend of science, history and culture – using local taonga as a
learning platform.
The project worked with carvers, schools and nephrite specialists
to examine the use of stone and metal carving tools. The Story from Stuff on workshop:
questions posed were: are carvers able to achieve the same http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/
quality of workmanship with stone and metal tools – which were news/86518455/carving-experiment-designed-to-shine-
used to carve the Motunui epa? What does this mean for other light-on-what-makes-motunui-panels-so-unique
carvings in New Zealand?
10
2016PARTICIPATORY SCIENCE PLATFORM TARANAKI UPDATE 2018
2016 11
CAPOW! CURIOUS ABOUT PROCESSING
ORGANIC WASTE
S tratford Primary School and Matapu School are taking
responsibility for their organic waste. Students
conducted audits to identify and measure the levels of
organic waste coming through their schools.
system to identify whether they could be used within the school
environment and what impact they may have on soil health;
evaluated any trade-offs e.g. volume processed vs. quality of end
output; developed a scientifically robust investigation into which
composting system grew the healthiest vegetables using trial and
With support from science partner John Coplestone of Industrial
control plots; produced compost for use on the school vegetable
Chemistry Services, students: explored the definition of
patches.
sustainability and how this relates to their school environments;
examined organic waste streams looking at their content and Students also undertook field trips to visit their peers at each
volume; examined existing soil structure and chemistry at their school and share and compare findings between a large urban
school sites; researched and trialled five systems of managing and a small rural school.
this waste on-site, investigated the processes that underpin
The project culminated in a showcase event where students
each system, investigated the necessary inputs and variables
shared their findings with the community.
that impact their performance; examined outputs from eachCURIOUS MINDS
12
2016
MARU WAI MATARA
L ed by Te Whenua Tōmuri Trust this project worked with
TDHB, marae and schools to understand cultural and
scientific indicators of river health. This included water
quality, plant and animal life with community representatives
being trained in science methodology to examine these
• How safe is the water for swimming?
• How healthy and safe are the fish for eating?
• How healthy and safe are water plants for eating?
• How healthy is the ecosystem from a cultural perspective?
variables. Karl Russell from Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu helped
participants understand the different elements of cultural Participants extended their leaning of how to use scientific
health monitoring tools, assess things from an ecological perspective and gain
understanding of how communities can work with sectors such
Community groups involved in this project were already as farmers, scientists, iwi and local government to improve
monitoring the health of their local awa and this project sought to these ecosystems. Trialling the new methods added a cultural,
extend this work to understand: economic and recreational element to freshwater monitoring.PARTICIPATORY SCIENCE PLATFORM TARANAKI UPDATE 2018
2016 13
FULL STEAM AHEAD!
S tudents from Opunake Primary School explored the
feasibility of taking one of their standalone classrooms
“off-grid” for its energy needs. The school undertook its
own research into the energy consumption of the building as
well as the weather conditions present on-site. Students had
While investigating a wide range of renewable energy alternatives
for their school the students were proactive in taking on
challenges such as building their own solar models and solar
ovens. The students also created a wide range of instructional
videos during their investigations. Open days were utilised to
the opportunity to visit off-grid properties, and a School Gen share their work with parents and the local community.
school in Wellington, as well as meet with a representative
After visiting Clifton Terrace School in Wellington (School Gen
from Meridian Energy. Science Partner Michael Lawley of
school), Opunake School students are keen to do more research
EcoInnovation Ltd provided advice and learning on renewable
into how they can make their school more environmentally
energy alternatives including how photovoltaic cells work in
friendly.
solar panels.CURIOUS MINDS
14
2016
REV IT
S tudents from New Plymouth Boys’ High School have
designed, built and retro-fitted an electric engine to
an existing vehicle (Toyota MR2) with the intention of
testing its performance against a petrol engine counterpart.
The comparison will involve measuring; energy used/km, cost/
This project is being run in partnership with Falcon Engineering
as part of the “What If?” workshop. The workshop provides a
work space and mentoring environment to students interested in
engineering.
Project REV IT plan to further investigate the potential of electric
km, and theoretical range and performance characteristics of
vehicles in agriculture, particularly four-wheeled motorbikes.
each. Students will then be able to show which system is the
most cost efficient to run when comparing the cost of fuel and https://www.facebook.com/579581325545070/photos/
electricity energy equivalents. pcb.586647528171783/586647448171791/?type=3&theaterPARTICIPATORY SCIENCE PLATFORM TARANAKI UPDATE 2018
SOUTH TARANAKI
PROJECT EARTH
W hat would happen if our volcano were to erupt?
Anyone living in the shadow of Mount Taranaki likes
to think it’s nothing but a sleepy giant surrounded
by a lush blanket of bush and grass. But the fertile landscape
so crucial to our province’s economy is actually a monument
to our volcano’s explosive past.
Hawera High School students worked with Massey University
volcanologists to explore our mountain’s volcanic potential.
Students took ash deposit samples from various locations around 15
the mountain, and along with other samples provided by Massey
University, were able to map the extent of previous eruptions.
Armed with knowledge acquired from the geological record the
students ran a number of eruption scenarios and civil defence
simulations to understand and better prepare for a real life
volcanic event. Students worked in groups representing different
sectors of the community to determine what would happen if
power and water utilities were unavailable, what to do with the
province’s 500,000 dairy cows when an eruption begins, how
we would move around when ash covers the roads and brings
vehicles to an untimely halt, and other useful questions.
While solutions posed by students ranged from practical ideas
to those better contained in a science fiction novel, the final
message is clear: acknowledge the threat and be prepared.
https://www.facebook.com/southtaranakiprojectearth/
2017CURIOUS MINDS
16
2017
KO NGA KOWHITIWHITI – WATERCRESS
COLLECTION, INSTREAM ECOLOGY, AND
EXTERNAL INFLUENCES
H ow is the use of Taranaki land affecting the streams
that flow through them, and does water quality impact
on the health of watercress in those waterways? The Ko
Nga Kowhitiwhiti project undertook an investigation into these
questions that spanned waterway to dinner table.
investigated four sites where watercress is present and collected.
The project took a full suite of water quality measurements and
sent watercress samples away to check the levels of metals and
bacteria in the plant’s flesh.
The results showed all streams in the area had water unsafe for
As the land use around Waitara changes, and the effects these drinking, and at one of the sites the watercress had bacteria levels
changes have on water quality becomes better understood, the above the advisable threshold for human consumption.
community is becoming increasingly aware that the health of
The Ko Nga Kowhitiwhiti project is planning to work with an
mahinga kai (places to gather food) is diminishing. Kowhitiwhiti –
engineer to design a grow-your-own watercress system to offer
watercress – is an important hua whenua (naturally grown food)
a safe-to-eat alternative to contaminated watercress sites and
that is collected by Māori, both for ceremonial purposes and as
supplement those that are in a healthy state.
part of a balanced daily diet.
With support from BTW Company environmental scientists,
Ōtaraua Hapū members and Waitara High School studentsPARTICIPATORY SCIENCE PLATFORM TARANAKI UPDATE 2018
2017 17
PEST TRAPPING IN THE MAKAHU VALLEY
N ot many schools can say that they have kiwi, long-
tail bat, and North Island robin living on their back
doorstep, but ever since students at Makahu School
recorded a kiwi call in a patch of bush not far from the school,
the students have been hooked on conservation.
had caught 9 feral cats and at least 25 rats in the small blocks they
are monitoring by the end of November. Using a tracking camera
and bait the project recorded possums, rabbits, hedgehogs, and
even a hawk which cheekily pinched the bait.
The monitoring of a small area of bush near the school allowed
Armed with the knowledge that they have some endangered the students to get up close to a North Island robin who made the
neighbours, the school’s students have been motivated to area his/her home. After a few months that robin had attracted
investigate the distribution of pest species in their valley, and the a mate. Now the students are waiting with baited breath to see
potential threat they pose to native species. if the two nest and rear chicks.
The budding conservationists built 85 DOC 200 traps, and while Following rounds of trapping the project aims to redeploy
deployment was held up by the wetter than usual winter, the traps recorders to monitor kiwi presence over time.CURIOUS MINDS
18
2017
PROJECT WI-FINDING: TOWARDS SOLVING
TARANAKI’S CONNECTIVITY PROBLEMS
I n a society where most people under the age of 20 have
never heard of dial up, it seems surprising that there are
still people in New Zealand who can’t access the internet
from their homes: indeed some rural areas of Taranaki are yet
to realise the benefits of connectivity.
of New Plymouth Boys’ High School as a model for a wider
problem, students investigated the existing connectivity in the
school and designed solutions to overcome the issues they
identified.
Local internet service provider PrimoWireless offered support
Lecturers and postgraduate students from Massey University’s throughout the project and provided the students with
School of Engineering and Advanced Technology worked with opportunities to visit their commercial operations both within
students from New Plymouth Boys’ and Girls’ High Schools to New Plymouth and in a rural setting.
investigate what barriers exist to effective connectivity and how
The project was also grateful for the support from Internet NZ and
these barriers can be overcome.
GoWireless who provided extra funding and technical equipment.
The project began with an introduction to the science and
technology behind wireless connectivity, then using the groundsPARTICIPATORY SCIENCE PLATFORM TARANAKI UPDATE 2018
2017 19
TOKO SCHOOL DISTILLATION INVESTIGATION
Y ou could be forgiven a sideways glance when you hear
of the Toko School Distillery. No it is not set up in the
staff room to alleviate stressed out teachers. In fact it is
not used to produce alcohol at all. The distillation project is all
part of Toko School’s mission to eliminate waste and increase
Enter Jim Bennett from Still Valley. With guidance from Jim, Ms
Fergus and her students quickly became experts in the art of
distillation.
Local scientist and horticulture expert Sue Rine has been helping
the students design experiments to test how effective their
their sustainability.
distillates are as cleaning products.
Ms Fergus and her class set out with the goal of producing their
Toko School intends to run this project into the future allowing all
own products such as cleaners, soaps, shampoos, and creams.
those that pass through the school the opportunity to learn and
Their intention is to replace the products currently used at school
explore the science of distillation.
with more sustainable school-made equivalents. By distilling
organic matter for essential oils and hydrosol, the project hopes
to utilise what the school grows onsite.
Before they could launch into full scale production, the students
needed to first learn how to distil, and then figure out which
organic matter would be the most useful for their purpose.CURIOUS MINDS
20
2017
A PESKY PROBLEM – TE NAMU HAKIRARA
N obody likes sandflies or their compatriots the
mosquito, but a fantastic outdoor learning area Tane te
Wananga at Woodleigh School has prompted a group
of students to do something about this pesky problem.
hydrosols from lavender, eucalyptus, pine, kawakawa, and
rosemary.
The project tested the different distillates to see which was the
most effective insect repellent, and will also experiment with
Insect repellents containing DEET are not an option for ground cover to see if laying pine bark (a known insect deterrent)
Woodleigh’s teachers or students. Ms Rankin and her students would reduce the amount of bites.
had to look elsewhere to stop the biting, and began investigating
Who knows – we may even see a Woodleigh School branded
the efficacy of repellents made from organic material they
organic insect repellent hitting the market in the near future – the
collected themselves.
warmer weather and rise in biting bug life presents a compelling
The class has their own copperhead still which they have used to reason to stay tuned to this project.
make hydrosols and essential oils. With help from their science
partner Jim Bennett from Still Valley, the students distilledPARTICIPATORY SCIENCE PLATFORM TARANAKI UPDATE 2018
DOTTEREL DEFENDERS: USING PARTICIPATORY
SCIENCE TO INFORM AND IMPLEMENT
MANAGEMENT OF ENDANGERED NEW ZEALAND
DOTTEREL
O ur local superheroes the Dotterel Defenders have set
out on a conservation mission to identify what threats
exist to New Zealand dotterel in Taranaki.
The project, led by the Taranaki Conservationists, trained
Based on the information gained from monitoring, measures
have been implemented to better protect the dotterels including
roping off nesting areas and setting up predator trapping rosters.
Students from Rahotu and Coastal Taranaki Schools have made
signs to raise awareness of the dotterels and the threats to them.
volunteers and ran field investigations at four key dotterel
locations along the Taranaki coastline. Despite the wintery Volunteers are continuing predator trapping and monitoring
weather, the training and field events had strong participation dotterels throughout the breeding season, including monitoring
from coastal communities. Participants undertook beach the success of chicks so that breeding productivity can be
cleans (>250 kg of rubbish collected), litter surveys and used assessed.
NatureWatch NZ to record footprints and species encountered.
For more information see the Taranaki Conservationists website
On-going monitoring has included recording the behaviour of the www.taranakiconservationists.com/dotterel-defenders
dotterels (142 sightings), monitoring predators (sandy footprint Or like them on Facebook www.facebook.com/
and tracking tunnel monitoring), monitoring vehicle use on DotterelDefenders/
beaches and predator trapping (catches include 12 stoats and
weasels, 6 hedgehogs and 3 rats in 60 traps).
21
2017CURIOUS MINDS
INANGA ORA KI TE AWA O WAITARA
B etween August and November every year, Taranaki
estuaries become inundated with migratory species
of juvenile galaxiid and an individual species of net
wielding hominoid. The galaxiid are better known as tasty
translucent whitebait, and the hominoid as the fishermen
down the Waitara Awa. During this voyage, students recorded
and observed potential spawning sites, wahi tapu (sacred sites),
and noted inputs into the river both natural (tributaries) and
man-made (stormwater, industrial outflow etc). Representatives
from Todd Energy and Methanex were present to support the
trying to catch them. All those gracing the river banks dream project and explain their influence on the Waitara River and their
of returning home with full buckets. But is this dream a reality? commitment to environmental management.
Waitara Alive and the Ōtaraua Hapū are working with Waitara The project is comparing present day spawning site health and
High School students to better understand the health of whitebait abundance to historical evidence collected from local kaumatua.
spawning sites along the Waitara River. The project is collecting By contrasting past with present, the Inanga Ora project team
GPS locations of appropriate spawning habitat, and assessing hope to identify how spawning habitat is changing, and what can
the health of these areas based on criteria such as the level of be done to better protect it.
vegetation covering the riverbank just above the high tide line,
Inanga Ora have science support from the Taranaki Regional
how protected this is from stock or human impact, and water
Council and ecologist Shane Orchard. It is hoped the results from
quality – although this is more important for adult fish.
this investigation can help educate locals as well as contribute to
A highlight of the project was the opportunity for students from a national evaluation on the status of whitebait spawning.
Waitara High School to join the project team on a kayak trip
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2017PARTICIPATORY SCIENCE PLATFORM TARANAKI UPDATE 2018
2017 23
TRACKING FUR BABIES IN TARANAKI – GETTING
TO KNOW DOMESTIC CATS AND THEIR OWNERS
D oes your cat have a secret life? Is your resident couch
potato a creature of the night? Or does your feline
friend disappear for days on end without the courtesy
to leave a note? Wild for Taranaki worked with Central and
Makahu Schools to investigate what our cats are doing when
cats during both the day and night. Cat profiles and maps can be
found here
http://main.net.nz/index.php?page=taranaki-furbabies.
Understanding the extent of domestic cat movements will provide
valuable information on their potential impacts on native wildlife.
we aren’t looking.
Tracking can also highlight risks to cat welfare, particularly if
Sixty-six volunteer cats were fitted with GPS units and tracked they are found to be regularly crossing main roads for example.
for a week at a time. Tracking occurred from August till late Results may even confirm/alleviate an owner’s fear that their cat
November in a variety of environments (urban, semi-urban, rural). is cheating on them with another family.
The Tracking Fur Babies project found that the extent to which Results from the Tracking Fur Babies project will also contribute
cats would wander was largely dependent on the personality to a wider study undertaken by Heidy Kikillus from Victoria
of the individual cat. One finding would suggest cats prefer to University.
walk undercover, sticking close to hedges, fences and canopies
For more information on this project see
and tend to avoid crossing open spaces particularly paddocks.
http://www.wildfortaranaki.nz/discover/projects/tracking-
Findings from the project found that cats in rural areas, and those
fur-babies/
living on larger sections wandered the farthest.
MAIN Trust worked with the Tracking Fur Babies project to turn
their GPS data into meaningful maps displaying the movements ofCURIOUS MINDS
24
2017
SCHOOLYARD BLUES: TARANAKI SCHOOL
CHEESEMAKING PROJECT
M assey University in collaboration with Fonterra are
putting blue cheese on the high school menu. The
Schoolyard Blues project aims to engage Taranaki
students in the science of cheese making, and along the
way create a blue cheese that is more attractive to a young
Each group of students made a control cheese and one that
varied from the recipe in either the way it was salted, or the way it
was pierced. After 5 weeks maturation, the project culminated in
a tasting event where students and the community were invited
to try the creations – the variation in cheeses was remarkable
audience. despite all being made with the same recipe under the same
conditions.
The first and most important step in any cheese-related
endeavour is to sample the cheese you intend to create: very few Guest judges rated the cheeses on appearance, form, flavour,
of the Hawera High School students involved in the Schoolyard texture, and odour, and while the judges were very impressed,
Blues project for 2017 had ever tried blue cheese, let alone made most of the students still need a bit of convincing before blues hit
it. Cue Fonterra cheese maker Cathy Lang, who guided students their cheeseboards. While the project may not have created many
through two days of meticulous stirring, gentle heating, rennet blue cheese converts yet, it has given the students an insight into
adding, curd cutting, whey draining, basket filling, cheese flipping, the exciting opportunities in food science.
surface salting, and finally some tactical piercing to create a
selection of blue cheeses.
Between cheese making steps, students had Massey University
food scientist Alistair Carr lead them through small experiments
and delight them with dairy related facts.PARTICIPATORY SCIENCE PLATFORM TARANAKI UPDATE 2018
2017 25
BUG ALERT!
T he East Taranaki Environment Trust (ETET) worked with
the Taranaki Regional Council (TRC) and Kaimata school
to initiate a wetland monitoring project at Purangi.
Previous work found that one of the wetlands lies under a flight
Kaimata School students collected data on invertebrate
abundance with relation to vegetation biomass. The project set
up fixed monitoring sites which will be used into the future to give
insight into temporal changes in biodiversity and vegetation.
path for the native long-tail bat population present at Purangi. The data collected to date has supported the students’
ETET and Kaimata School are in the process of implementing a hypothesis that the diversity of plant species, rather than the
restoration plan prepared by the TRC at the Purangi wetland. plant bio mass, leads to a greater diversity and abundance of
To allow monitoring of restoration success and maturation of macro invertebrates.
the wetland the Bug ALERT project collected baseline data on
ETET intends to engage other schools in the ongoing monitoring
biodiversity at a number of wetlands at Purangi and Kaimata.
of this wetland.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Do you have a great idea for a science or technology research project? If so, you
may be eligible for Curious Minds funding. For more information about Curious
Minds and Science in Society in Taranaki contact Josh Richardson at Venture
Taranaki. E: josh@venture.org.nz | P: 06 759 5158 (DDI)Venture Taranaki Trust is Taranaki’s Regional Development Agency. We help Taranaki grow.
Venture Taranaki is an initiative founded, owned and principally funded by the New Plymouth District Council. In addition to their support,
the Trust also receives funding from South Taranaki District Council, Stratford District Council, Taranaki Electricity Trust, TSB Community
Trust, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Callaghan Innovation, Business Mentors
New Zealand and numerous other private sector organisations.
An initiative ofYou can also read
