Young people serving their community in different ways won the top awards at the Gore District Youth Awards on Saturday. The Gore District Council Supreme Senior Award was won by the Hokonui Runanga taiao tauira (environmental cadets)

Danny Freestone and Scott Carr from Pro+Med taught the team how to assist those that require first aid in remote locations, by either using what you have on hand or what resources are found around you.

Hidden in Otatara, an outer suburb of Invercargill you can find two hidden gems, the Southland Community Nursery owned andTauira and Anna pay close attention to slideshow given by Chris Rance. operated by Chris and Brian Rance, and the Oreti Tōtara Dune Forest reserve. We were lucky to attend both for a seed collection wānanga and also to have been joined by Te Tapu o Tāne crew! Even if this reunion was short lived before parting ways for the day.

The tauira have had a busy month starting on Monday, with Daniel Munro from PWFP Fire Safety.

The Hokonui Rūnanga Kaitiaki Taiao Tauira Programme induction week ran from Monday 24 to Friday 28 January 2022. The kaupapa for the week was been busy but productive, it was a time to get to know and work with the tauira.

From 11-13 April 2022, we were privileged to have Richard Allibone from Water Ways Consulting, who facilitated the three days of electrofishing and taught our tauira some amazing new skills.

The tauira started their mornings at O Te Ika Rama Marae participating in fish ID training, followed by investigating waterways in the area, and allowing them to learn how to use and manage the electrofishing equipment. They learnt how to adjust and set the voltage for the equipment and then they were ready to go!

Pekapeka camp at Tawanui was amazing! Such an experience for the Kaitiaki Tauira and those from the Taiao Team.