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Wetland Biodiversity 2018

 

Wetland Biodiversity: journey to a rare inland high country ecosystem.

Introduction 

Take a breathtaking journey into the heart of the Southern Alps to explore Ō Tū Wharekai, a unique highcountry wetland area. Ō Tū Wharekai includes 12 lakes which are known as the Ashburton Lakes. This landscape has been carved by glaciers, creating stunning scenery which was made famous in the  Lord of the Rings.

Ō Tū Wharekai has habitat for native fish, trout, salmon, water birds, threatened native plants and aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates. The wetland area is one of the three Arawai Kākāriki project sites in New Zealand. This project aims to restore the ecological values of the most precious wetland freshwater sites in New Zealand.

Wetlands play a vital role on planet earth so this trip will fit perfectly with big ideas like water, plants and animals, ecology, migration, threatened species and conservation. This trip is a 3-day journey to an isolated sub-alpine area, so be prepared for an adventure!

 

wb181-introduction-video.mp4 from LEARNZ on Vimeo.

Location

Follow the mighty Rangitata River, one of the braided rivers that helped form the Canterbury Plains. It flows 120 kilometres from the Southern Alps entering the Pacific Ocean 30 kilometres northeast of Timaru. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and The Return of the King were filmed in this valley, on and around Mount Sunday.

Just downstream from Mt Sunday lies Ō Tū Wharekai, nestled amongst high country tussocklands and surrounded by the towering Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana. The Hakatere Conservation Park, centred on Ō Tū Wharekai, was opened in October 2007.

Journey to Ō Tū Wharekai, one of New Zealand's most precious freshwater wetland sites. Image: LEARNZ.

Field Trip Plan

  • Planning Sequence: an example of how primary schools can make use of all field trip components for a 3-day virtual field trip - Word (652k) | PDF (311k) | Google Doc.
Monday 2 April

Travel day: Join Andrew and the ambassadors as they make their way to Mt Somers to begin the field trip. 

Tuesday 3 April

Theme day 1Wetland types, functions, and importance.

Wednesday 4 April

Theme day 2Cultural connections and historic influences on today's remaining wetlands.

Thursday 5 April

Theme day 3: Wetland biodiversity and the threats faced.