You can contact LEARNZ, part of CORE Education, at:
Postal Address:
PO Box 13 678,
Christchurch 8141,
New Zealand
Ambassador Hipi
Tēnā koutou
My name is Hipi and I come from Waipipi School. I am very excited to be going on my first field trip!
I enjoy adventures in the outdoors and exploring new places. I am especially interested in visiting places in New Zealand that tell me a story about the past and what people are doing to look after our land, including native birds and trees.
Talk again soon,
Hipi
Monday 29 July
Kia ora koutou
Today we flew from Kerikeri to Auckland. Then Andrew picked up a rental car and we drove to Whitianga. We are staying in a motel right across the road from a beach in Mercury Bay. The motel is on a road called Buffalo Beach Road, so I’m guessing the beach is called that. I wonder how it got that name!
I am looking forward to getting to Ahuahu Great Mercury Island tomorrow.
Talk then,
Hipi
Tuesday 30 July
Kia ora koutou
We are here on Ahuahu Great Mercury Island! The island is much bigger than I thought it would be. It kind of feels like we are on the mainland. It looks like an interesting island to explore, which I can’t wait to do! We are due back in Whitianga on Thursday, so I will make the most of my time here.
Tomorrow we are going to find out more about the island’s history with Louise the archaeologist. Louise has been here many times so I’m sure she will take us to all the good spots.
Talk tomorrow,
Hipi
Wednesday 31 July
Kia ora koutou
Like I said yesterday, today we would find out more about the island’s history with Louise the archaeologist. It turned out to be an interesting day indeed! Our second stop for the day was at a place called Waitetoke. Here we could see stones arranged into lines. Louise said these showed where old kūmara gardens had been.
The lines of stones separated each of the kūmara plots. Some of the stones had moved over the years but you could still clearly see the rows. Louise said that stones in the soil would have heated up from the sun to help keep the crop warm, helping to grow the kūmara.
Talk tomorrow,
Hipi
Thursday 1 August
Kia ora koutou
Today I learned about trap boxes and tracking tunnels with Greg. There are lots of traps on Ahuahu in case a rat or other such pest makes it to the island. If there is an “incursion”, Greg will bring Sassy the rodent dog to the island to sniff out any unwanted critter that might be hiding nearby.
I have enjoyed this field trip and learned lots during my time away. But I am looking forward to coming back home!
See you all soon,
Hipi
Hipi from Waipipi enjoys adventures in the outdoors. Image: Andrew Penny, LEARNZ.
Monday. Hipi is enjoying the beach in Whitianga. Image: Andrew Penny, LEARNZ.
Tuesday. Hipi gets a view from the skipper's seat on the boat journey out to Ahuahu. Image: Andrew Penny, LEARNZ.
Wednesday. Hipi is at the old garden site at Waitetoke. Image: Andrew Penny, LEARNZ.
Thursday. Hipi is next to some trap boxes and a tracking tunnel near Peach Grove Bay. Image: Andrew Penny, LEARNZ.