Kaeo, Whangarei to host Enviroschools' expos

A dozen bush experts are to share their knowledge with an estimated 200 Northland Enviroschools students and teachers in Kaeo and Whangarei shortly.

The first of two Enviroschools’ expos – dubbed ‘Going bush...Mahi i te Waonui a Tane’ will be held at the Whangarei Museum and Heritage Park on Tuesday 30 October, with the next two days later at Kaeo’s Lonsdale Outdoor Education Park on Thursday 01 November.

The free expos are aimed at Northland participants in the popular Enviroschools programme, a whole-school approach to sustainability.  (The Northland Regional Council played a key role in bringing Enviroschools north in 2003 and about 40 percent of the region’s 170 schools are now in the programme.)

This year’s annual expos – both expected to be fully booked with about 100 participants at each - are the third run by the regional council.

Susan Karels, the council’s Enviroschools Regional Co-ordinator, says the expos will include hands-on workshops on topics including pest plant and animal identification and control, insect habitats, kauri dieback disease, kiwi and other bush birds and traditional uses for native plants.  A special puppet production focussing on bush wildlife will also be created.

Expos participants will include representatives from the regional council, the Department of Conservation, the Kauri dieback programme, KiwiNorth and the Magic Playhouse as well as a number of individual experts.

“It’s a great opportunity to learn from a diverse range of Northland-based bush experts and share what you learn with your local school community,” Mrs Karels says.

The seminars run from 8.45am to 3pm.

Mrs Karels says further information about the Enviroschools programme generally is available via the Regional Council’s website www.nrc.govt.nz/enviroschools