Celebrating a ten-year relationship with the people of Uawa/Tolaga Bay

The Centre has continued a decade-long science partnership with the people of Uawa/Tolaga Bay through various funding bodies, latterly the Vision Matauranga Capability Fund, and thanks to the commitment and energy of Centre Manager Wendy Newport-Smith.  Wendy was formerly manager of the Allan Wilson Centre which was also hosted by Massey University, and which began the relationship when the small East Coast town organised an amazing national event for the 2012 Transit of Venus.
 
Two recent projects looked at the safety of wild food, including watercress, which is important to the locals. That meant testing the quality of the water the cress grows in. 
 
The projects were both closely connected with Tolaga Bay Area school, and used as practical learning opportunities, which got the kids (and lab-bound scientists) outside gathering water and cress samples.  They had a lot of fun together.  None of this could have happened without the vision and leadership of matua Victor Walker and the school Principal, Mrs Nori Parata, who also played a key civil defence role during Cyclone Gabrielle, which left the river flats and beach covered in metres of forestry slash – a major setback to all the work they have done to restore their environment.      
 
You can read more about this very successful partnership at       
https://www.massey.ac.nz/research/research-impact-stories/massey-uawa-partnership-delivers-environmental-restoration-and-safe-local-food-sources/

Published on: 5 June 2024