Wetland (repo) connections – ecological and cultural perspectives

Repo (wetlands) are rich in biodiversity. They are the ‘in between’ places that connect the water with the land, providing habitats for native plants, invertebrates, fish and birds.

Repo are also rich in Māori cultural practices, providing mahinga kai, medicinal plants for rongoā, material for weaving, a reservoir for mātauranga and more.

As iwi and hapū, landcare groups and others work to restore repo, it is important to consider both the ecological and cultural connections.

In this activity, students use a local wetland to explore environmental factors and explore cultural perspectives using the Ake Ake model.

By the end of this activity, students should be able to:

• identify a few of the key species in a local wetland or a wetland of interest

• identify some of the characteristics of the wetland that support or influence these species

• look for species’ connections across wetland , dry land and open-water habitats

• consider cultural perspectives and connections with wetlands.

Download the Word file (see link below).