Experiencing Marine Reserves is a national program coordinated by the Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust with the purpose of "providing schools and their communities with the expertise and knowledge to experience their local marine environment first-hand, leading to local communities understanding marine conservation issues in their local area and fostering kaitiakitanga".
The Nga Motu Marine Reserve Society is assisting Taranaki schools to take up the programme, so they can visit interesting marine areas, snorkel, and observe underwater and seashore life.
Providing quality marine education opportunities to schools, communities and professionals.
Increasing awareness, encouraging action and support for marine conservation in New Zealand
Providing schools and their communities with the expertise and knowledge to experience their local marine environment first-hand, leading to local communities understanding marine conservation issues in their local area and fostering kaitiakitanga.
This national program of services and equipment is provided free of charge to the school thanks to support from the Tindall Foundation.
In Taranaki the EMR programme is coordinated by The Nga Motu Marine Reserve Society, the Conservation Department, and the teachers from St Pius X, Manukorihi, Mimi and Ahititi Schools.
Funding from DOC, The Tindall Foundation and Origin Energy allowed the schools to study their local marine environment, learn about marine biodiversity and learn to snorkel and dive as a class in a marine reserve.
Taranaki classes travel to Cape Rodney-Okakari Point Reserve at Leigh, and to Taputeranga Marine Reserve in Wellington.
Mr Swanson from St Pius X said giving children outdoor classroom experiences helps them value marine reserves so they "ultimately become advocates and be involved in helping to look after them". Read more from the Taranaki Daily News
The goals for EMR in Taranaki:
To raise awareness, understanding and support for marine conservation through provision of dynamic experiential environmental education opportunities.
The general objective of EMR programme in Taranaki is to build community support for marine conservation, including the recently-established Tapuae Marine Reserve on Taranaki’s West coast.
٠ Introduce young people to marine conservation through EMR programme
٠ Increase the Taranaki communities knowledge and understanding of marine conservation and the benefits of marine reserves.
٠ Help raise awareness of the role of the Department of COnservation in the management of marine reserves.
٠ To establish a student driven intertidal monitoring programme
٠ To expand the programme from the pilot school, St Pius X School, to 3 other schools (see above)
٠ To give students experience of Marine Protected areas outside of Taranaki
If your school would like to join the EMR program Contact the Society