An excursion with the National Environment Service (NES) to Avatiu Stream provided Tereora College geography students with hands-on experience in water health research, comparing upstream and downstream conditions to understand the impact of environmental factors and human activity.

“It’s important for us to learn about this because rivers are described as veins or blood vessels to the island,” says Level 1 geography student, Princze Purua, sharing that their excursion with NES highlighted importance and understanding to the students.

NES guided Tereora College Level 1 geography students on a site visit to Avatiu Stream for practical water health lessons. During the visit, students performed various experiments, mirroring the methods NES typically employs when conducting water health research.

The students were taken to a stream further inland to first conduct water experiments in different areas, before ending their research project at the end of the stream behind the Punanga Nui Market to compare results.

According to Purua, “stream helps the island have access to clean and fresh water, and it’s very important that we should take care of the rivers”.

Purua said the students gathered data from the stream at its beginning and end points to compare results.

Their aim was to understand why identifying these differences is important for ensuring water health safety.

The students were split into four different groups, each led by NES compliance officers and other members.

The groups were given different tasks to perform, which included testing the pH levels, the movement of the stream, vegetations and living organisms in the water.

Students were appointed to collect data from their designated areas under the instructions of the NES members.

Each group were instructed to compile their results then repeat the same thing at their second location which was further down the stream behind the market.

At the end of their practical learning, the students will then get the opportunity to compare their results from up the stream to the end with those of their class back at Tereora College.

The first group, led by Keanu Harawira, an intern compliance officer, started before the rest and tested the pH levels.

Gemma Langley, a volunteer service with Muri Environment Care, brought equipment for the students to test the pH levels in the water.

The second group led by Mike Bowie, the NES contracted environmental specialist, looked at different living species in the water stream. From their findings, the students identified two baby shrimps, one rimmed Melania snail, two mosquito lava and one millipede. From the lower part of the stream, they discovered 11 snails and one blood snail.

According to Bowie, bloodworms live in areas with poor water quality and low oxygen, indicating an unhealthy aquatic environment.

The third group, instructed by Eva Moana Patai, NES compliance officer, measured the depth, width of the water and the velocity of the wind which influences the flow of the water, helping them measure the speed of the water flow.

The fourth group checked the water clarity.

NES compliance officer Alowesi Suveinakama shared with Cook Islands News that his group’s role in the project was to identify any disturbance around the water.

“This is a good exercise to help the kids from Tereora College to identify the disturbance are, to use visual and see how clear the water is,” Suveinakama said.

“It’s just a good way to help them build awareness and keep the stream clear, and what they can contribute as themselves.”

At the end of the day, the students shared a brief understanding of their findings. Some learned about the difference in algae growth from the start of the stream to the end, while others learned that nutrients from around the stream can affect the water, including the algae.