Rangatahi Day Out - Nature Economy Pathways

The event was well received by rangatahi and working professionals in the fields of environmental science and conservation.

Educational workshops were delivered by Harvey Rubbo  - WCRC Water Quality Team, Sam Speight - Landcare Trust, Nick Lees – SGS, Sharon Haarsma and Nik Lagaluga - MBC Environmental, Sacha Healey - Kotahitanga mo te Taiao Alliance and Glenn Irving - Kawatiri Nature Environment Communities Trust. 

Students studying the Diploma in Outdoor Instruction and Guiding at Tai Poutini Polytechnic also attended the event. These students increased their knowledge of conservation work opportunities and supported Development West Coast (DWC) by cooking a bbq lunch for everyone involved.

Zak Shaw, Project Lead ‑ Nature Economy at DWC was pleased to bring the event to the Buller district. He said “the event provided an excellent opportunity for students to have a hands on learning experience and to gain a sense of the wide variety of environmental work that is being done up and down the West Coast”

“It was pleasing to see how engaged the students were with the learning activities. Not only did they plant an additional 200 native plants they also really enjoyed analysing water quality and catching and identifying various esturine species.  I was impressed by the students attitudes to learning and the confidence they showed in singing a karakia to bless our kai at lunchtime”