Famous Five Fish Inspire Action for Wairarapa Schools

Six Wairarapa enviroschools came to Carter's Reserve on Thursday 22 May 2014 to learn about New Zealand's endangered native fish. They were supported by experts from the Greater Wellington Regional Council, Department of Conservation and the local marae Te Hurunui o Rangi. The students' mission was to experience what it means to be citizen scientists. They will take their learning away to share with others and to use in their own local communities.

The focus was on the 'famous five' species of native fish called galaxiids. Galaxiids have a complicated lifecycle which includes migration between the sea and freshwater. Many will be familiar with their juvenile form, when they can all be caught as whitebait.

Wairarapa Enviroschools facilitator Esther Dijkstra talks with participants at the event

The day was organised by Enviroschools facilitators Esther Dijkstra and Gill Stewart with the support of GWRC and inspired by local author Amber McEwan's books about these fish. It tied in with World Fish Migration Day which was celebrated on the 24th May. 

Working with real scientists, the students got to learn about some important aspects of the job and their passion for our native species. "The sad thing is so many people don't know about our native fish" said Warren Field.

GWRC's Brett Cockeram shares his knowledge

Fresh water ecologist Brett Cockeram talked about how rare the galaxiids now are. "We're looking for them all over the place and we're just not finding them."

A brown mud fish

The teachers and students return to school well-armed with Amber's books, donated by GWRC, about the whitebait species. The students' mission is to share the books with schools across the region. "Making sure our rivers and streams stay as freshwater highways for these fish - that is the key message for the day," said Gill Stewart.

Additional resources

Room 12 at Carterton School's photo slideshow from the event 

Enviroschools facilitator Gill Stewart's photos from the event.

A list of resources relating to Native Fish and Freshwater Highways