A new focus: Invasive Clam Education
The biggest development for us this year has been a move into freshwater biosecurity education. A school camp with Wairakei Primary School, where 62 local children swam for two days at Karapiro, and then came back to Taupō for the kids triathlon in the weekend, has led to a realisation that there needs to be education for local students about invasive clams. We’ve consulted with Biosecurity New Zealand and Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board to become part of the Check Clean Dry network and help to spread the messaging about invasive clams. We have their support to provide online teacher/student resources about invasive clams and how to prevent their spread to Taupō. We’ve made it a goal to speak to every student in every school in the Taupō/Tūrangi area before the end of the year about this.
In Term 1 2024, we kicked off our sessions educating about the invasive clams that have been found downstream in the Waikato River. We do not want these in our lake and feel strongly that our local families need to understand how to avoid bringing them back from places like Mangakino and Karapiro. At the Water of Life Expo at Tongariro National Trout Centre we taught school groups about the clams then played 'Kākahi vs Clam'. It was lots of fun, but a serious message. Thanks Waikato Enviroschools for putting on the event.
