He Tai Ora, the Living Sea

We are a coastal people with a long tradition of seafaring and coastal and marine resource use. He Tai ora, the Living Sea utilises our unique coastal marine and estuarine enviornments as learning contexts, developing water skils, knowledge of marine ecology and potential impacts on this, and opportunities for improved management and conservation practices.

He Tai Ora, the Living Sea, is a Learning Experience Outside the Classroom (LEOTC) program incorporates three existing marine studies projects and several resources:

He Tai Ora, the Living Sea experience typically includes:

  • Learning to snorkel and practice water safety
  • A classroom introduction to coastal and marine ecology and impacts on these
  • Exploring a protected marine area (e.g. Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve)
  • Exploring a local environment (e.g. mahinga kai, food gathering reef or estuary)
  • Ecological surveying (e.g. identifying species and levels of abundance)
  • Recording experiences and data, and analysing this
  • Discussing traditional and contemporary coastal resource management practices
  • Relating information to peers or in a community setting (e.g. marae or Coastcare group)
  • Developing community actions to protect and/or enhance the local coastal environment

Individual programs can be tailored to a school’s needs and delivered to all year levels from junior to secondary. There is no charge for the delivery of He Tai Ora for registered primary, intermediate and secondary schools and kura, although there may be a small charge for hirage of wetsuits and snorkel gear. 

The He Tai Ora, The Living Sea experience is also available to tertiary students, community groups and industry and corporates.  A range of background resources are available from the Useful Resources page