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The Mighty Waitohi

Each year the tamariki of Picton School learn about the mighty Waitohi Awa. Most cross it each day on their way to school.  It is the awa of their pepeha, flowing from their manuga Piripiri.

The awa became even more of a focus this year. Lianne Adams, a teacher at the school, wrote and published a book about it.  Originally named Te Wereanga o Waitohi, this small and powerful stream would engerize and empower the brave and skillful warriors before battle.

The tamariki followed the path of the awa from Mt Piripiri down the valley to Waitohi. Where it flows through built up areas, under roads then completely disappears into covered culverts. Before meeting the moana beside the Edwin Fox.  They knew it would be healthy at its source. However they wanted to check the health of the awa as it flowed through town.

Nikau and Kowhai classes walked down to the awa with Angela and the Stream Study Kit. There they measured the temperature, the flow and clarity of the water and identify the invertebrates living in the awa.

The types of invertebrates living in the awa are a good indicator of its health.  Mayflies and Caddisflies tell us the stony bottomed awa is healthy, snails on the other hand indicate it needs some help.

The awa was full of life … and much to the tamariki’s delight, the good kind.

The tamariki observed that the banks of the awa, apart from long grass and weeds, were bare.  While taking part in the stream study, they discovered that planting along the banks would create a better environment for the awa and its inhabitants. This would provide shade to keep the water cool, enticing more insects and biodiversity to the awa.

With help from ES and 1 Billion Trees Fund, they were able to start planting the banks of the awa to return it to how it may have looked when the warriors took part in their ritual using the sacred waters of Waitohi Awa.