The Catlins Coast - Department of ConservationThe Catlins rainforest is renowned for its lush undergrowth, often a dense tangle of tree ferns, shrubs, vines, lancewoods, stinkwood, - [PDF Document] (2024)

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The Catlins CoastAn environmental education resource kit for use onthree sites in the Catlins:• Lake Wilkie• Tahakopa Bay• Picnic Point

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CONTENTS

Using this resource 4

History 7

Lake Wilkie: Site Information 12

Tahakopa Bay: Site Information 13

Picnic Point: Site Information 14

Site Activities 12

Activity 1: Sound Log 18

Activity 2: In the sport shop or at the pharmacy 20

Activity 3: Colours and shapes 21

Activity 4: Building a canoe 22

Activity 5: Nature awareness treasure hunt 23

Activity 6: Tree transects 24

Activity 7: Global threats, local environments 25

Activity 8: Selecting a site 26

Related Resources (including websites) 27

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WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT THE CATLINS?

The Catlins, in the south-eastern corner of Te Waipounamu (the South Island) has

been occupied by humans for at least a thousand years.

The region is named after Captain Edward Cattlin (correct spelling), who bought

land from the Käi Tahu chief Tuhawaiki in 1840, a month before the Treaty of

Waitangi was signed. The “Catlins” name now refers to the whole coastline, coastal

forests and farmland between the Clutha and Mataura Rivers.

This area is now the largest expanse of native forest left on the east coast of the

South Island. The extent and range of vegetation give it national importance for its

botanical value. Unbroken sequences of vegetation stretch from the coast to sub-

alpine tops.

The Catlins’ remote and largely unspoilt coastline and bush provide a precious

haven for wildlife. Many species of animals, insects, plants and fish found here are

now rare or endangered.

Today scientists, students and tourists from all over the world visit the Catlins to

experience a unique, relatively unmodified landscape – New Zealand close to the

way it was hundreds of years ago.

USING THIS RESOURCE

This resource kit is part of a Department of Conservation and Kai Tahu ki Araiteuru

initiative. The aim of the resource is to encourage teachers to plan exciting,

educational experiences on key reserves in Otago with significant conservation and

cultural values.

A brief summary of the area’s early history is included to help students understand

the strategic importance of this coast, its rivers, estuaries and forests for the survival

of the täkata whenua (local people), and the sealers, whalers, saw millers and

farmers who followed during the last 1000 years of human settlement.

This Catlins Coast resource kit focuses on three sites, all within easy access of the

Tautuku Outdoor Education Centre:

• Lake Wilkie, nestled in a hollow in the Tautuku dune forest about 500 metres

south of Tautuku Outdoor Education Centre, is an excellent example of forest

succession from marsh to mature podocarp forest.

• Tahakopa Bay, a classic example of an early Mäori moa-hunting camp dating

back to 1000AD, is sited at the mouth of the Tahakopa River at Papatowa.

• Across the estuary at Papatowai is a popular beach walk along a typical stretch of

Catlins coastline to the Picnic Point Scenic Reserve. A track returns through

coastal podocarp forest.

In the southern Kai Tahu dialect,

‘ng’ is often replaced by ‘k’.

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CURRICULUM LINKS

This resource kit offers a selection of pre-visit, on-site and follow-up activities to

provide students with a range of experiences in, about, and for the environment.

These suggestions can be adapted to any age/level and provide learning experiences

that:

• Encourage safe and informed use of conservation sites;

• Cover the seven essential learning areas of the New Zealand curriculum using the

relevant achievement objectives listed in the Guidelines for Environmental

Education in New Zealand Schools (1999, Ministry of Education);

• Include a Mäori cultural perspective with particular reference to technology;

• Value the Catlins as part of Otago’s environmental heritage.

The Guidelines for Environmental Education in New Zealand Schools promote

education for the environment. People are encouraged to think about their

attitudes, values and life-style choices against the impact on the environment.

An understanding of the construction and use of Mäori technology provides valuable

insights into the physical properties, adaptations and behaviour of plants and

animals in this environment. It also highlights the interconnectedness of this habitat

with other sites in the Otago region.

When planning post-visit activities, students are encouraged to use an action-

oriented approach that promotes informed action to address environmental issues

raised during the visit. See Appendix 5, Guidelines for Environmental Education

in New Zealand Schools.

Some suggestions are given in post-visit section, but an action-oriented approach is

most effective when students take responsibility for their own planning, and carry

out their activities in partnership with others.

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OUTDOOR SAFETY

When planning a visit to the Catlins, make sure school policy and the correct

procedures are followed. For example, you will need to do a risk analysis

management plan for your visit.

Points to remember:

• Brief students on outdoor safety before the visit and remind them again on arrival

to take care.

• Groups must remain on marked tracks and should stay together at all times.

• At Lake Wilkie, school groups need to be well supervised on narrow boardwalks

along the lake margins.

• Parents and helpers should be well briefed on their responsibilities – mainly to

know exactly where their charges are at all times.

• The study sites are all on open land close to the main tracks, so the possibility of

getting lost is minimal if tracks are followed.

For further in-depth information on outdoor safety refer to:

• Education Outside The Classroom: Guidelines For Good Practice (Ministry of

Education, 1995)

• Managing Risks in Outdoor Activities (Mountain Safety Manual 27, 1993)

• Outdoor Safety Management Systems (EONZ, 1998)

• Outdoor Pursuits Guidelines For Educators (Hillary Commission, 1996)

• Water Safety Across the Curriculum (Water Safety New Zealand, 2000)

School groups should be aware that the Catlins was occupied or visited by Mäori for

many centuries and may have urupä (burial grounds) and other wähi tapu (sacred)

sites that were restricted areas to the täkata whenua (local people). Groups should

respect cultural protocols by observing tikanga (customs) where possible, for

example, not taking food on to such sites.

Before your site visits you may like to consider DoC’s environmental care code on

its web site (http://www.doc.govt.nz/Explore/NZ-Environmental-Care-Code.asp).

Below is a summary of the main points:

ENVIRONMENTAL CARE CODE CHECKLIST

• Protect plants and animals

• Remove rubbish

• Bury toilet waste

• Keep streams and lakes clean

• Take care with fires

• Camp carefully

• Keep to the track

• Consider others

• Respect our cultural heritage

• Enjoy your visit

Protect the environment for your own sake, for the sake of those who come

after you, and for the environment itself.

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History

In early Mäori history, myth and fact are intertwined and the lines between the two

are not always clear. Oral legends describe a magical tribe of giants or ghost people,

the Kahui Tipua, who once roamed the south. The great Tautuku forests were

reputedly guarded by legendary wild, hairy men known as maeroero.

Fact takes over from legend when successive waves of Waitaha, Kati Mamoe and Kai

Tahu iwi (tribes) migrated south from the North Island between 850AD and about

1650AD. These tribes combined through conquest and strategic marriages and are

now known collectively as Käi Tahu (southern dialect), or Ngai Tahu.

Archaeologists have excavated Mäori kaika (villages), moa-hunting camps and

middens in the Catlins dating back to 1000AD. Excavations have uncovered bones

from 13 different species of moa, a large flightless bird that is now extinct, stone

knives and adzes, artefacts, bone fish hooks and two unfinished waka (canoes)

carved from giant tötara logs.

Settlements were concentrated on major river estuaries because they offered access

to mahika kai (food resources) along the coast and into the densely forested

interior of Murihiku, the Mäori name for this area.

Evidence of major settlements has been found at Murikauhaka and Te Karoro (Kaka

Point), Cannibal Bay, Pounawea and Hinahina on the Catlins Lake (Kuramea),

Papatowai, Tautuku Peninsula and Toetoes (Mataura River mouth). There were

many more seasonal hunting camps (nohoaka) that were used for gathering food.

The great English navigator Captain James Cook sailed along this coast on his

circumnavigation of New Zealand in 1770, but it was more than 30 years later

before European and American sealers and whalers landed on these shores.

Southern fur seals were plentiful on this coast in the early 1800s. Sealing gangs

quickly cleaned out breeding colonies and shipped the skins back to Europe for the

fashion trade.

The whalers followed the sealers. Many settled here, marrying Käi Tahu women.

A shore whaling station was set up at Tautuku Peninsula by William Palmer in 1839.

Crews with famous names like Tommy Chasland, Long Harry and Scotch Jack

caught many whales in the first three years, but then catches declined and the

station eventually closed.

Port Molyneux (near Kaka Point), Owaka, Tautuku and Waikawa Harbour became

busy coastal ports as settlers arrived from the 1840s and began clearing forests for

agriculture.

By 1872, saw milling was a major industry for the Catlins and the port of Owaka

exported more timber than any other port in the South Island. However, by 1889

the easy timber had been felled and the trade fell into decline.

Construction of a railway line from Owaka revived the timber industry. At its peak

between 1919 and 1929 there were 30 sawmills operating, small towns and schools

flourished but the industry eventually exhausted itself, many towns disappeared as

the populations left and the railway line itself was closed in 1971.

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THE FORESTS

The cool, temperate Catlins coastal rainforests include the Maclennan (18,954

hectares) and Tautuku Forests (13,326 hectares). Over 3,700 hectares of forest

remains in private Mäori ownership, mostly in the Tautuku, Chaslands and Waikawa

area.

These Catlins forest are most famous for their giant podocarps – rimu, miro, totara,

kahikatea and matai – that were once the basis of the region’s saw milling industry.

The largest podocarps are concentrated along the coast.

Silver beech (tawhai) is dominant on the inland hills, particularly in the Maclennan

Forest. The southern-most stand of silver beech forest in New Zealand occurs in the

Catlins. Between the hills and the coasts, beech forest is mixed with podocarps, and

the spectacular red, white and yellow flowering rata, kamahi and köwhai.

The higher country is a mosaic of shrub and scrubland, peat bog, wetland and red

tussock. Bog pine, yellow-silver pine, kaikawaka (mountain cedar) and celery pine,

mänuka, olearia and cassinia are some of the species found here.

The Catlins rainforest is renowned for its lush undergrowth, often a dense tangle of

tree ferns, shrubs, vines, lancewoods, stinkwood, broadleaf and three-finger under

the tall tree canopy. The mix varies from site to site depending on light, moisture

and aspect. The forest floor is generally covered in moss, ferns and seedlings.

Two unusual plants are the rare Catlins coastal daisy (Celmisia lindsayii), which is

endemic to this region and is found perched on cliff tops from the Nuggets south,

and pikao (or pingao), a native sand binder now threatened in most parts of the

country. This species may be found on the sand dunes behind Tautuku and

Tahakopa beaches.

BIRDS

A wide range of habitats from the coast, river estuaries and forests to the high

country attracts an unusually large and varied population of birds.

Forest birds include the nectar-eating songbirds, the tui and bellbird (korimako),

New Zealand pigeon (kükupa) and mohua (yellowheads). Smaller bush dwellers like

the fantail (pïwakawaka), tomtit, grey warbler (riroriro) and brown creeper (pipipi)

are also common.

In the rivers and estuaries, paradise shelducks, mallards and grey ducks are common

but the numbers of rare endemic blue duck (whio) are in critical decline through

loss of habitat. The secretive fernbird (mätä) is more often heard than seen in salt

marshes and scrub margins.

Two species of freshwater shag (köau) are common, along with the South Island

pied oystercatcher (torea), pied stilt (poaka), kingfisher (kötare), the white-faced

heron and spur-winged plover.

Out on the coast are several breeding colonies of yellow-eyed penguins (hoiho),

probably the world’s rarest penguin, and their shy cousin the little blue (kororä).

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MAMMALS

Long-tailed bats occur in the Catlins, though their numbers are thought to be in

decline. Introduced mammal predators and loss of habitat to roost, in tall

podocarps, threaten this species.

Most resident mammals were introduced and are now regarded as pests. Rabbits,

stoats, ferrets, feral cats, possums, pigs, goats, wild cattle and red deer are the main

offenders.

Along the rocky coast, New Zealand fur seals are common while New Zealand sea

lions can be seen on some sandy beaches. Occasionally elephant seals and sea

leopard seals haul themselves ashore.

FRESHWATER FISH

Water quality is especially high in the Catlins because of the unmodified forest

catchment. This is rare in coastal reaches of rivers along the east coast of the North

or South Islands.

Threatened species of giant and banded kökopu and koaro are believed to occur in

the rivers and estuaries. A survey in 1994 confirmed the presence of an unidentified

galaxiid.

All rivers and streams are important habitat for whitebait (inaka) and eels (tuna).

The Catlins River is an important trout and whitebait fishery.

INVERTEBRATES

A large pink and green moth (Meterana n. sp.), a flightless chafer beetle

(Prodontria praeletella) and Astelia zig-zag moth (Charixena iridoxa) are among

the special insects of this part of the Catlins coast.

Salt marsh insects at Tahakopa Bay and dune insects at Tautuku and Waipati beaches

are significant with several species of restricted distribution, and some as yet

undescribed.

Freshwater aquatic insects are also important because of the diversity of species and

the number of rare species present.

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MANAGEMENT ISSUES

The Department of Conservation’s main management priorities are:

• The control of forest browsers - possum, deer and goats.

• Noxious weeds on roadsides and forest margins.

• Protection of forests.

• Protection of marine mammals, penguins, mohua and other wildlife.

• Control of predators in breeding colonies.

• Coastal erosion and use of vehicles on beaches, dunes and wetlands.

DoC’s management objectives for the Catlins are:

To improve protection for complete sequences of indigenous vegetation and

examples of uncommon species and ecosystems.

To secure as complete an area of indigenous coastal and inland forest as is

feasible in the Catlins for protection of its high landscape, floral and faunal

values and public enjoyment.

TAUTUKU OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTRE

• The Tautuku Outdoor Education Centre is run by the Otago Youth Adventure

Trust. Contact (03) 415-8035 for bookings or further information.

• It is set in native lowland forest in the William King Scenic Reserve, 500m from

Tautuku Beach and 32km south of Owaka on State Highway 92.

• It provides accommodation for groups of up to 100 people (88 beds in two

dormitory blocks and 8 staff rooms). A self-contained block with four twin

bedrooms, kitchen, common room, shower and toilet is also available.

• The centre charges $5 per person or a minimum of $200 per night (2002 rates).

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Tautuku Bay and Tahakopa Bay, Catlins

Safety around wildlife in the Catlins

School groups are quite likely to encounter wildlife at close range on the rocky

shores and beaches of the Catlins. New Zealand fur seals and sea lions are

common and breed in colonies along the coast while southern elephant seals

and leopard seals occasionally haul out on beaches here. There are also several

penguin breeding colonies.

Here are a few general guidelines to keep you safe and to avoid disturbing the

animals:

• Keep your distance – avoid disturbing wildlife by approaching too close. If

any animal shows signs of disturbance or alarm you should retreat quietly.

• Avoid loud noises or sudden movements that could cause animals to panic.

• Never get between wildlife and the sea, as this is their natural escape route if

alarmed.

• Stay away from seal colonies during the breeding season. During this time

males are territorial, extremely aggressive and will attack trespassers on their

territory.

• Groups of sea lions, particularly young males, can be unpredictable and

likely to charge. Do not approach closer than 20 metres.

• Dogs and wildlife do not mix so it is best to leave Rover at home.

• Avoid using a camera flash around wildlife as the intense light can damage

their eyes and night vision.

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Lake Wilkie – site information

WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT THIS SITE?

• The sequence of vegetation along the seaward edge of the lake is regarded as

unique and of special scientific value.

• The complete succession of vegetation from sphagnum moss on the lake edge to

mature forest is compressed into a distance of less than 65 metres.

• Some of the main forest species growing here are rimu, miro, tötara, rata, kamahi

and mänuka.

• A series of information panels explain the process of forest succession.

Access

• Lake Wilkie is a short walk (500m) south of the entrance to the Tautuku Outdoor

Education Centre on State Highway 92, the main route through the Catlins.

• It is a five-minute walk from the car park on SH92 to a viewing platform

overlooking the lake, which nestles into an old dune hollow between the

highway and Tautuku Beach.

• The track then cuts down through the forest to boardwalks around the marshy

edges of the lake, about a 10-minute walk from the car park.

• Allow at least an hour for a site visit, depending on activities planned.

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Tahakopa Bay – site information

WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT THIS SITE?

• Tahakopa Bay is an important archaeological site of an early Mäori moa-hunting

camp dating back to 1000AD. Extensive middens (pictured below) have been

exposed by coastal erosion from the Tahakopa River terrace (pictured above)

directly opposite the village of Papatowai. Stone knives, adzes, bone fishhooks

and artefacts have been found in this area.

• The Catlins may have been one of the last refuges of the flightless, now extinct

moa. Thirteen species have been identified from bones excavated here. They

were hunted on the open mud flats of the Papatowai and Pounawea estuaries

between 1000AD and 1700AD

• The dense podocarp forest covering the old mudflats and sand dunes of the

estuary is of national importance because it is one of few areas of native timber to

escape the axes and chainsaws of over 100 years of saw milling.

• The track passes through a narrow band of silver beech, which is normally found

further inland, tree ferns and a stand of young totaras near the sea.

• Tahakopa Bay has the largest concentration of the native sand-binding plant,

pikao (pingao) in Otago. This plant is also found in the sand dunes behind

Tautuku Bay. Unfortunately, this plant is losing ground in its battle against an

aggressive import, the introduced marram grass.

Pikao was a taoka (treasure) species for southern Mäori as it was highly prized for

weaving. The tough pikao leaf could be tightly woven into a strong pokeka

(raincoat), which was regarded as thoroughly waterproof, or protective garments

such as shields or chest protectors (poho-taupa) worn by warriors.

Access

• Access to the Tahakopa Bay Scenic Reserve is from the north side of the

Tahakopa River Bridge, 1.5km north of Papatowai, which is 28km southwest of

Owaka.

Walking tracks and times

• The Old Coach Road track starts from the car park and picnic area on the north

side of the Tahakopa River Bridge.

• It follows an old coastal route for horse-drawn wagons around the curve of the

river to the beach at Tahakopa Bay, directly across the estuary from Papatowai.

• Walking time is about one hour for the return trip on a wide, flat track.

• Allow extra time for activities planned in the forest and on the beach.

• It is possible to walk east along the beach for about 4.5kms and then rejoin the

Old Coach Road as it traverses the hill to Purakauiti. Then return to the

Maclennan estuary via Puaho Road. This is a full day’s walk. Talk to the warden at

Tautuku for detailed maps and advice on track and sea conditions.

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Picnic Point – site information

What’s special about this site

• This section of coast is one of the least modified in the Catlins.

• The bush walk to Picnic Point is a good introduction to the Catlins forests. The

crowns of large rimu and matai emerge from the canopy of kamahi and rata. The

undergrowth is rich in ferns, spleenworts, vines and epiphytes.

• A large range of coastal rainforest species is identified by marker posts.

Access

• This track is one of the most popular walks in the Catlins for all ages and all

seasons.

• Access is sign-posted from the Papatowai domain/picnic ground on the Tahakopa

River estuary.

Walking times

• An easy bush walk through coastal forest from Papatowai to Picnic Point takes 20

minutes each way.

• A return trip via the beach takes about 15 minutes.

• Allow at least an hour depending on the activities planned.

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Site activities

Pre-visit

• Locate your school and the Catlins Coast on a map. Work out how long it will

take to get there by bus. Find the nearest marae (there may have been ones closer

to the Catlins Coast in former times). Work out how long it would have taken for

people to walk there. What other forms of transport could have been used over

the past 200 years? Debate the environmental impact of these different forms of

transport, for example; sealed and unsealed highways.

• The Catlins Coast provides habitat for plants, insects, fish, birds and other

wildlife. Find pictures of these plants and animals and sort them according to

their habitat: marine, estuarine, forest, wetland, etc. Can you notice any order or

patterns in physical characteristics and habitat? Compare native with exotic

species. Which ones are entirely dependent on the Catlins Coast for their

survival?

• The human impact on natural resources in the Catlins has been significant.

Firstly, the period of Mäori settlement followed by the arrival of European

settlement with the sealers, whalers, foresters, farmers, residents and now the

tourists. In one way or another they have all left their mark on the environment.

Identify the ecological impact of these activities on land and marine resources,

and subsequent changes to the human population. What evidence of these

activities might you see (or not see) during the visit?

• Learn a waiata or a story about Te Wao Nui Ä Täne. For example the song “Te

Köpere” by Hirini Melbourne (Melbourne, n.d.) which is about the colours of the

rainbow in the forest. Explore the meaning of this waiata, and how the colour

names are associated with the names of trees and birds in the forest.

• Various sites on the Internet calculate your ecological footprint—the area of the

Earth needed to support your lifestyle. Calculate and compare your ecological

footprint with that of a Mäori person of the same age living in this environment

200 years ago. What does this mean for sustainability?

• Mahika kai, food gathering, was an important activity of Mäori. Read the story of

Te Waka Huruhurumanu (Huria, 1996) and/or The People of the Place: Mahika

Kai (Dacker, 1990). Brainstorm why the Catlins Coast was a significant mahika

kai area and list the foods that it contributed to the food basket of Ngäi Tahu.

How has this changed over time? Consider the significance of this activity to the

on-going involvement of Ngäi Tahu through the Claim Settlement Act of 1998.

• Visit the environmental education website at Christchurch College of Education.

Find the game called “Possum Picnic”, (Law, 2002a). Play this game and explore

the interdependence of people and environment. How is this “game” being

played in the Catlins? How will you investigate this question during your visit?

• Place names often tell us about important features of the physical environment

and about the natural resources. Find Mäori and Päkehä names for this area and

the stories associated with these names. Think of ways your visit will help you

understand the significance of these names.

• People have lived here for a thousand years. Develop a timeline of who they

were, how they lived and what technology they used. What does this tell you

about their attitudes and values towards the environment? Invite a range of

people to talk about their involvement with the Catlins Coast today.

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• Visiting a DoC site requires us to take care of the environment and people who

visit it. List possible hazards to people and the environment during your visit and

suggest how these can be overcome or avoided. Write an outdoor safety code

and have someone take responsibility for it during the visit. There are protocols

involved in visiting a site of historical significance to Mäori. How will you find out

about them and observe the tikanga during your visit?

• Find keywords associated with the management of a coastal environment.

Include words from the DoC website and Mäori literature on resource

management, such as; conservation, rähuitanga, etc. Compare and contrast these

terms and identify issues that might be significant for the management of this

area. How does this link in with the protocols between DoC and Ngäi Tahu to

achieve conservation policies, actions and outcomes in this area?

• Biodiversity is important for a sustainable environmental but it is under threat

from the introduction of exotic species and the destruction of habitat,.

Investigate these issues on a global scale and find out about New Zealand’s

Biodiversity Strategy by visiting DoC’s website. Develop ways to investigate these

issues during your visit to the Catlins Coast.

• Technology is purposeful activity for meeting the needs of people in the

environment. Identify two pieces of technology used in this environment (before

1800 and since 1950). Compare the purposes for which they were designed and

identify what this tells us about the people and the physical and biological

environment. Were there any unintended consequences from using this

technology? Suggest technologies that might be seen during the visit.

• List all the Mäori words used in the introductory notes to the Catlins super sites.

Identify which of these is in Käi Tahu dialect. For example, the /ng/ in northern

dialects is often replaced by /k/ - compare Kai Tahu and Ngäi Tahu. You may

need this information to find the words in a dictionary. What do these terms

mean? Suggest their significance to Käi Tahu and the environment.

• Make a list of different groups of people who visit the Catlins Coast, why they

come here, what their needs are, what they might expect to find here. Consider

their cultural background, their attitudes and values, then during the visit, find

evidence to suggest whether or not these needs are met. Suggest what could be

done to address these issues and the likely effect on the environment.

• Visit the environmental education website at Christchurch College of Education,

(Law, 2002a). Adapt games to suit a forest environment. For example: play

“Making the Links” (Barry, 2002b) include such topics as; recreational use,

farming, agricultural run-off, roading, endemic species, climate change, logging,

local government, Mäori owners, flooding, establishing a new tourist industry,

etc.

• From the pre-visit activities you have studied, which aspect of the Catlins Coast

interests you the most? Brainstorm how you will find out more about this during

your visit. What skills and equipment will you need? Consider the environmental

impact of any activity you undertake.

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Post-visit

• Grow native tree seedlings in a small nursery at school or at home. Once seeds

have germinated, transplant them into containers until they are big enough and

strong enough to plant out. Consider the effect these trees might have on bird

life and the environment in general.

• Share your knowledge and skills with others. There are many DoC super-sites in

Otago/Southland. Make contact with a school near another of these sites and

share your information about the Catlins with them. How are these sites

interdependent?

• Take a story in Mäori, such as “Kei Raro i te Räkau”, (Mahuika, 1990). Adapt the

story to a Catlins Coast environment using birds seen during your visit. Use

pictures taken during the visit and compose a similar story about the things you

found under a large podocarp.

• Build a food web of the plants, insects, fish and birds that live in this

environment. Examine the environmental impact of changes to the food web, for

example, people releasing unwanted pets.

• Investigate traditional Mäori concepts and technology of waste management in

this environment. Compare these with today’s concepts and technology. What

are the options for the future?

• Use tape-recorded sounds, voices and instruments to tell a story about the

environment through sound. Use sound images that evoke memories and feelings

for this place.

• Build an inventory of Mäori technology required for mahika kai activities on this

area. Which natural resources were required to build these and which resources

are available here? Where could the other resources have come from? What does

this tell you about the interdependence of sites in the Otago/Southland region?

How will you display this information for others?

• Have students develop a set of statements about scenarios that might happen in

the Catlins Coast from such things as thoughtless or unlawful behaviour, natural

events, etc. Have others rate these statements on a 1 to 5 scale, giving reasons for

their responses. Use this information to develop an action-oriented activity that

takes account of the range of attitudes and values expressed.

• Different words we use evoke different feelings about the environment. Make a

set of word cards using English and Mäori words about the Catlins Coast and

other environments. Give the set of cards to other people and ask them to rank

the cards in order from “most liked” to “least liked” or “don’t know”. What does

this tell you about how people value Catlins Coast? How would you run an

advertising campaign to promote the value of Catlins Coast? What words would

you use in the campaign?

• Hold a “Hot Seat – site scenario” about the removal of native trees from private

land. Identify all the stakeholders: owners, farmers, local residents, tourists,

forestry industry, Regional Council, Ngäi Tahu, DoC, a rimu, wood pigeon, ... .

Have each student take the position of one stakeholder, research the effects of

the proposal on that stakeholder and be prepared to be put in the “Hot Seat” to

justify and debate how the proposal will affect them.

• Brainstorm the benefits and disadvantages of tourism in the Catlins. Continually

consider the impact on the environment and on the lives of the people living

there. Debate issues, such as tar sealing the road through the Catlins, then

undertake an action-oriented project to deal with issues that arose.

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SOUND LOG

Take the opportunity to listen and record the sounds you hear in the environment.

Compare these with sounds heard at other sites or at other times.

Materials:

• Sound log

• Pencils

• Clip board

• Tape recorder

Method:

Find a place by yourself and listen carefully.

Record these sounds, noting direction, distance, quality.

Finish the sound log by drawing in the different habitats.

Use a tape recorder to record sounds of the natural environment and of people

moving through the forest.

Sound Log

(see next page)

Processing Questions

• Compare the sounds of human and natural origin.

• How did these sounds make you feel?

• How would you change this soundscape?

• How would such changes impact on the environment?

• If all exotic species were removed from the site how would this change the

soundscape?

ACTIVITY 1:

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NORTH

Sound Log

Location: Date:

Recorder: Time:

Instructions:

1. Find a solitary space in the environment and sit in silence for 10 minutes.

2. Orient the sound log towards north.

3. Record any noise or sound that is heard on the graph paper with respect to its

direction, distance, source, indentity etc.

4. Identify the habitats from which each sound came and continue over page.

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IN THE SPORT SHOP OR THE PHARMACY

Today, we buy most of our sports equipment from the sport shops and our

medicines from the chemist. Prior to 1800, however, the local environment was the

major source of these resources, though some may have come from other areas.

However, this does not necessarily mean that they were inferior. In the case of

medicines, many of the most common medicines originally came from natural

sources.

An understanding of the physical properties, adaptations and behaviour of plants

and animals was necessary to make effective use of available resources for fishing

and medicine. Choose one of these and research the properties of plants that made

them suitable for fishing gear or medicines. For example, köwhai wood is one of the

hardest woods in the New Zealand forest and was ideal for making the shanks of

fishhooks. The young leaves of the koromiko were used for dysentery. The Mäori

Battalion used it during World War II.

Resources you will need:

• Species identification cards

• A resource person able to share stories about the uses of plants in fishing

technology and/or medicine.

Method:

• Remind people about the safe use of plants and the importance of only using

them with expert advice.

• Identify these plants in the Catlins Coast environment.

• Share stories about the physical properties of plants.

Process Questions:

• What did your findings tell you about the knowledge and lifestyle of people

based on these resources?

• Compare traditional Mäori fishing technology with the technology used today.

What are the ecological implications for resource management?

• How does traditional knowledge about the physical properties of plants in the

New Zealand forest relate to issues of intellectual property rights and resource

management?

• Who should benefit from this knowledge and how can those rights be protected?

Consider the legal issues of the WAI 262 claim before the Waitangi Tribunal.

• How do these rights relate to the rights of commercial plant breeders in this

country who develop new varieties?

ACTIVITY 2:

21

COLOURS AND SHAPES

People attach meaning and feelings to shapes and colours. Look at the DoC logo.

What feelings and values do the colours and shapes evoke? People also attach

meaning to the shape and colour of plants and animals in the environment. Mäori

legends and Aesop’s fables are good examples. These meanings are often associated

with human qualities and emotions.

In the legend of “The Käkä and the Käkäriki” (Graham, p.29) the käkä covets the

bright plumage of its smaller cousin. Eventually, the birds exchange their plumage

but unfortunately for the käkä the red feathers under the wing were highly prized

by people who arrived from the Pacific. For them, red was associated with

leadership and authority.

Materials:

• Paper and pencil

• List of colour names in Mäori

Method:

1. Carefully observe the shapes of plants and leaves.

2. Make colour sketches or rubbings of these shapes.

3. Write down words you associate with these shapes and words to describe how

you feel about them.

Process Questions and Activities:

1. What do these shapes and colours remind you of?

2. How do they make you feel?

3. How did you feel when you were in the forest?

4. What colours and shapes most express this feeling?

5. Take the sketches and rubbings you did and rank them in order from “ most

favourable” to “least favourable” then share ideas with others.

6. Either: use these ideas to design a logo to inform tourists in the Catlins about

some attraction or danger, or write an allegorical story about some human quality

related to a colour or shape found in the New Zealand forest.

7. What other myths and legends do you know relating to the plants and animals in

various habitats of the Catlins Coast?

ACTIVITY 3:

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BUILDING A CANOE

Double hull canoes are more stable on the open ocean while single hulled canoes

are more suitable in rivers. Single hulls were more versatile as they could be lashed

together for ocean voyages and fishing.

Your job is to identify a tree suitable for building a canoe. You may select only one.

If you make the wrong choice you will be without a canoe for a long time. That

means your family will be unable to go fishing. If you cannot find a tree large

enough, you could select one that will be large enough when your grandchildren

are adults.

Materials and preparation:

• Carry out the activity “Build a tree” (Law, 2002) found on the environmental

education website at the Christchurch College of Education.

• Have a keen eye, be able to identify a tötara from other podocarps: miro, rimu,

mätai and kahikatea.

• Prepare identification cards of the main podocarps found in the Catlins Forest.

Method:

NO TREE WILL BE DAMAGED. NO STUDENT WILL LEAVE MARKED TRACKS.

Look for signs of a tötara that has a straight grain, with sound timber and the

heartwood in the centre of the trunk. These signs include:

• growing on the valley floor

• growing in the centre of the bush

• no sign of epiphytes growing in the crown

• no sign of leaf damaged by possums

• a mature tree with a thick bark

• sound root system with no sign of soft, mushy wood.

Process Questions:

• Think about how prevailing winds and light falling on a tree might cause it to

grow differently. Suggest how these factors affect a tree growing at the top of a

hill, on a slope, near the edge of the forest. Why would these trees be less

suitable for canoe building?

• If this tree was removed, what ecological effects would this have on the

surrounding forest plants and animals?

• Think about how a tree gets its nutrients. Which signs, listed above, indicate that

the tree has sound timber?

ACTIVITY 4:

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NATURE AWARENESS TREASURE HUNT

Materials:

• Instruction card

• Pen or pencil

• Paper

• Hand lens (optional)

Method:

• Students work in pairs to find and record the items listed on the cards. DO NOT

COLLECT SAMPLES.

• After a period of time, students report their findings.

ACTIVITY 5:

Nature Awareness Scavenger Hunt

Find evidence of the items below and explain the reason for their special

feature (e.g., something that protects bird life – fences to separate people and

birds.)

• Something that grows in water.

• Something that lives on this plant.

• Something with long, narrow leaves.

• Something people have used.

• Something people have done in the environment

• Something that tells people to be careful

• Something being done to improve the environment

• Something that protects bird life

• Something of special interest

• Something that is a sign of Täwhirimatea (God of Winds)

• Something that feels smooth

• Something symmetrical

REMEMBER the Environmental Care Code.

✓ Stay on the tracks

✓ Treat plants and animals with respect

✓ Enjoy the environment

Process Questions:

• What do these things tell us about how people think and act in the environment?

• Brainstorm descriptive words about these objects that relate to all our senses.

How could you use these words in a brochure to encourage people to care for

the Catlins?

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ACTIVITY 6: TREE TRANSECTS

The New Zealand forest is made up of many species of trees, ferns, lichens, mosses,

etc. One way to have a close look at these is by taking a transect, a line between

two points, and carefully identifying and counting all the different species that grow

along that line.

Materials:

• A line or cord.

• Pencil and paper

• Identification cards

Method:

• Remember the Outdoor Safety Code for the protection of people and the

environment.

• Divide into small groups.

• Place the line on the ground, perhaps between two large podocarps. Look at

everything above and below the line.

• Record each species or plant and animal above and below the line. Record

physical characteristics; how many, how tall, how wide, how thick, what colour,

etc.

• After about 20 minutes, regroup and discuss findings.

Process questions:

• How many different species did you find?

• What patterns did you find e.g., growing on the same plant or on a fallen log,

etc.?

• What patterns can you see in relation to size?

• What reasons can you give for these patterns?

• Where are the tiny plants and animals?

• How long would you need to identify all the plants and animals living along this

transect?

• Were there any signs of other plants and animals having been there?

• What does this tell you about biodiversity?

• What questions arose for further research and investigation?

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ACTIVITY 7: GLOBAL THREATS, LOCAL ENVIRONMENTS

Factors that affect the global environment also impact on local environments. For

example, species extinction is taking place at a global level due to factors such as:

• Introduction of exotic species – which pose a threat to native species.

• Destruction of habitat – turning wild places into monocultural environments

and/or wasteland.

• Over-harvesting – Humans are switching predators, able to change their diet.

People currently harvest 50% of the annual plant growth on Earth.

• Islandisation – impoverishment of habitat – the smaller the habitat, the more

vulnerable the biodiversity.

• Pollution – especially CO2 and greenhouse gases.

Materials needed:

• Pens and worksheets

• Camera.

Method:

• Prior to the visit, make worksheets listing global factors that might impact on the

Catlins Coast environment.

• During the visit, find as many examples as possible under each of the headings

and identify what steps, if any, are being taken to limit or reverse the impact.

• Identify any other headings that you may have overlooked but which are relevant

to this site. List examples of the effects and strategies, if any, being used to

address them.

• Use a camera to record examples of these global patterns in the local

environment.

Process Questions:

Prepare a report of findings then:

• Compare how many of these global patterns are a direct result of human

intervention rather than natural processes.

• Compare the possible impact of conservation strategies with the strategies of

rähuitanga and kaitiakitanga.

• What would happen if human intervention stopped?

• How do you feel about these issues?

• What values and behaviours underpin these feelings?

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ACTIVITY 8: SELECTING A SITE

If plants and animals adapt to their environment by changing their physical

characteristics and to a lesser extent their behaviour, how do people adapt?

If you had to live in this environment and only use the natural resources found here,

where would you choose to live? What materials would you use to build your

shelters?

Think about where the sun is; where the prevailing winds come from; whether or

not you need a defensive position, how many people there are, whether it will be a

permanent or temporary settlement, water supply, etc.

What other things do you need to take into consideration?

Traditional settlements are often wähi tapu-areas with special restrictions. It may

not be appropriate to take food on to such sites. What other tikanga should be

observed? How will this influence your planning to visit these sites?

Materials:

• Map of the Catlins Coast with contours marked.

• Pencil and paper.

Method:

• Explore the Catlins Coast together, visiting a range of possible sites.

• Stand quietly at each location and use all of your senses to get the feel of each

place. Write a couple of keywords about how you feel at each location.

• Divide the class into groups. Each group will decide on a suitable site to build

their settlement.

• Return to a central point and then in groups decide on a suitable site, plan the

layout of the settlement and design of the dwellings giving reasons for each

choice.

• Locate the settlement on the map then draw a plan of the settlement OR make a

scale model in sand or other material. Share results with others.

Extension Activity:

• Where were the traditional settlements here?

• How do these choices compare with your own? What are the advantages and

disadvantages?

• Look at the design of the traditional whare rau (Dacker, p.21). How do your

designs compare?

27

RESOURCES AND REFERENCES

In planning your site visit, the following resources and web sites may be of interest:

Attenbourgh, D. (2001). The State of Our Planet, BBC. 2001.

Beattie, J. H. (1994). Traditional Lifeways of the Southern Maori. Dunedin,

University of Otago Press.

Best, E, (1986). Fishing Methods and Devices of the Maori. Wellington,

Government Printer.

Bray, S., G. Thomas, et al. (n.d.). Under the Eve of the Saddle Hill Taniwha.

Dunedin.

Buxton, R. New Zealand Wetlands: A Management Guide. DOC/Environment

Council.

Crowe, A. (1992) Which Native Tree? (Simple Guide to NZ Native Trees), Penguin

Books.

Cowley, J. (1994). Pükeko i te Ata. Wellington, Ministry of Education.

Dacker, B. (1990). The People of the Place: Mahika Kai. NZ 1990 Commission.

Everitt, H. (1983). Ruku. Wellington, Learning Media.

Gillies, B. (1984). Nga Manu i Runga i te Räkau. Wellington, Learning Media.

Goodall, M. and Griffiths, G. (1980). Maori Dunedin. Dunedin, Otago Heritage

Books.

Grace, D, (1990), He Räkau Rangatira. Palmerston North, The New Zealand

Natural Heritage Foundation.

Graham, P. (1995). Maori Nature Traditions – Children of Earth and Sky.

Auckland, The Bush Press of New Zealand.

Heather, B. and H. Robertson. (1996). The Field Guide To The Birds of New

Zealand, Viking.

Huria, G. (1996). Te Waka Huruhurumanu. Christchurch, Ngäi Tahu Development

Corporation.

Johnson, Peter and Pat Brooke. (1989) Wetland Plants In New Zealand. DSIR

Publishing.

Kaa, O. (1992). Kua Hikina te Rähui. Wellington, Learning Media.

Kaa, O. (1997). I te Ngahere. Wellington, Learning Media.

Kai Tahu ki Otago (n.d.). Kai Tahu ki Otago Natural Resource Management Plan.

Dunedin, Kai Tahu Runanga ki Otago.

Law, Barry (2002a). Making the Links, Christchurch College of Education.

http://www.cce.ac.nz/enved/.

Law, Barry (2002b). Possum Picnic, Christchurch College of Education.

http://www.cce.ac.nz/enved/.

Mahuika, K. (1986). Kei Roto i te Moana. Wellington, Learning Media.

Mahuika, K. (1990). Kei Raro i te Räkau. Wellington, Learning Media.

McDowall, R. M. (1978) New Zealand Freshwater Fishes: A Natural History and

Guide. Heinemann Reed, MAF.

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Melbourne, H. and M. Gardiner (n.d.). Te Wao Nui a Tane. Wellington, Huia

Publishers.

Ministry of Education (1999). Guidelines for Environmental Education in New

Zealand Schools. Wellington, Learning Media Limited.

Porteous, Tim. (1993) Native Forest Restoration: A Practical Guide for Land

Owners. QEII National Trust.

Tangaere, J. (1986). Nga Kai Moana. Wellington, Learning Media.

Whakataka-Brightwell, M. (1994). Waka. Wellington, Ministry of Education.

Video

Wild South documentary (approx. 20min), Te Nohoaka o Tukiauau (The Sinclair

Wetlands).

Web sites

www.eednz.org.nz

A comprehensive directory of environmental education resources available on-line.

Highly recommended

www.doc.govt.nz

Gives a broad range of information on the Department of Conservation and offers

excellent links to specific information on many species of birds, animals, plants,

insects and pests. Also has on-line access to resource kits for schools.

http://www.earthday.net/footprint.stm

Earthday Network (2002). Ecological Footprint Quiz, Redefining Progress,

www.nzbirds.com

A great site for identifying New Zealand birds with easy index to use and great

pictures.

www.greenpages.org.nz

A link with a directory of conservation organisations in New Zealand.

www.forest-bird.org.nz

The Forest and Bird Protection Society is New Zealand’s largest non-government

conservation group.

www.nzaee.org.nz

The New Zealand Association for Environmental Education has a comprehensive

directory of sources of information available on-line.

http://www.niwa.cri.nz/rc/freshwater/fishatlas/key.htm

Atlas of New Zealand freshwater fish compiled by the National Institute of Water

and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) has a guide to identifying fish by their

appearance or name.

http://www.ew.govt.nz/ourenvironment/water/wetlands/plantsandanimals/

fishaccess.htm

This Environment Waikato site deals with native fish access between the sea and the

wetlands where they spawn.