Tairua School students win Best Community Action Project

Media Release
24th May, 2017
Issued by Tairua School

Tairua School students win Best Community Action Project

THEIR efforts to help their community take action against marine pollution has earned two Tairua School students the chance to snorkel the infamous Poor Knights Islands, one of the best diving sites in the world.

Inspired by the Experiencing Marine Reserves education, snorkel and action programme, 11-year-old Emily Ryan and her classmates Natasha Woolley and Sarah Ellis decided to take action to improve the water quality around our coast. By presenting their idea to Thames Coromandel District Council, the girls were given the go-ahead to roll out and promote the Yellow Fish Campaign across the town. This involves spraying yellow fish next to the stormwater drains.

“The aim is to highlight the message “Only Rain Down the Drain” and remind people that pollution run-off entering the stormwater system eventually ends up in our oceans,” explained Emily.

The group also created their own YouTube channel to highlight the dangers of microbeads in our oceans and ways of reducing the impact they have. The project was driven by the students’ passion to make a difference in their community, from fundraising for materials, to drain marking, to putting their message to the world online and through a local poster campaign. So far the girls have sprayed around 25 per cent of the drains, working at weekends and after school. They aim to finish the entire town by the end of this term.

Amber Boyd, Exploring Marine Reserves coordinator for Coromandel, was blown away by the students’ knowledge and passion as well as the self-determination they brought to their goal. “When students feel empowered and supported by the community great things happen,” she said.

The project was named Best Community Action Project in EMR’s Poor Knights Islands competition which sees the winner and a parent fly from Auckland to the Bay of Islands for a four night stay including a day of snorkelling at the renowned marine sanctuary. Emily, who will represent the team behind the Yellow Fish Campaign, said she is super proud of what she and her fellow students have achieved. “I hope that what we have done will encourage others to take action against pollution and remind people that just one piece of rubbish can have a big negative impact on our environment,” she said.

Leaving for the Bay of Islands this Thursday, Emily will be joined by another Year 7 student at Tairua School. Stevie Keyte also landed a spot on the trip by winning the Bobby Stafford-Bush EMR Ocean Art Prize for the Coromandel, for creating art inspired by the EMR snorkeling experience. Tairua School has been participating in the Experiencing Marine Reserves Programme for several years which sees a group of senior students snorkel the Hahei Marine Reserve every year. This experience is made possible by Friends of the Te Whanganui A Hei Marine Reserve Trust.

Teacher Greg Pilcher supported the Yellow Fish campaign team by allowing the students to work on their project as part of Genius Hour. The learning concept allows students to spend 20 percent of their class time on a task or project which they have a real interest in or passion for.

“These girls just took it to the next level, they were working evenings, weekends and even holidays. The research they did was just phenomenal and the way they were able to present that knowledge was so impressive. I am delighted that they have received this recognition for their efforts. It is thoroughly deserved,” he said.

To hear more about the girls’ campaign simply search “Pioneers Against Plastic” on YouTube.

ENDS

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