Kaitiakitanga: Getting to Know Our Ōpāwaho

Part of kaitiakitanga (guardianship of our environment) is knowing our local environment. We will be working together to create a book and wall display of Ōpāwaho flora (plants) and fauna (animals). Together, we will represent the entire local ecosystem.

1. Choose one plant or animal to focus on.
2. You will be creating an A5 portrait page for our book (to be color photo-copied for the book and displayed on the wall around our Ōpāwaho in Toroa).   
3. Create a detailed illustration of your plant or animal.
1. Your first attempt will not be your final, published illustration. Watch Austin's Butterfly together (on the blog). Give each other specific feedback and improve your work until you have an illustration you are proud of.    
4. Write a scientific description of your plant or animal.
1. You will need to write a draft first to ensure your work is publishing quality (edited and proofread). Aim to write at least two paragraphs, including the following information:
1. Is your plant/animal common, endangered, threatened?
2. Where does your plant/animal live?
3. What threats does your plant/animal face? (e.g. predators, pollution)
4. Describe your plant or animal's life cycle.
5. For animals, describe their diet/prey or behaviour.
6. What can we do to help your plant/animal thrive?

We need to include all of these plants/animals in our book:

raupō (bulrushes)

tussock

harakeke (flax)

toetoe

tutu

ferns

tī kōuka (cabbage tree)

tuere (blind eel)

kanakana (lamprey)

inaka (whitebait)

tuna (eel)

pātiki (flounder - found where the Ōpāwaho meets the ocean)

any other plants or animals which belong in or around our Ōpāwaho.



Our Waka Hourua students added some quality questions of their own:

How have Māori and Pākehā treated this resource?
How does this animal hunt?
How should we protect this species?
What is this species' scientific name?