The Kaikōura Ocean Research Institute (KORI) received a bequest late last year from a woman, who completed a marine mammal field course in Kaikōura in 2011.
The bequest allowed KORI director Dr Jody Weir to establish a Young Marine Biologists’ Programme, something she has been wanting to do for several years.
‘‘At the end of last year I was contacted by her partner. He had been trying to track me down because she had left something in her will for the dolphins in Kaikōura.
‘‘It was a really broad affirmation that the field schools had impacted on people’s lives because she only spent two weeks here.’’
The council’s recently adopted economic development strategy identified marine education as a priority for Kaikōura’s future development.
The new programme came out of a study funded by a grant from the Kaikōura District Council’s discretionary fund four years ago.
‘‘I’ve been wanting to do it for a while. The study showed there was an appetite for it, but it’s always been an issue of funding,’’ Dr Weir said.
The bequest allowed KORI to appoint co-ordinator to get the programme off the ground for 11 children aged 6-12 years, accompanied by a parent, to attend six one day workshops learning about Kaikōura’s marine environment.
It was launched in March with the theme of ‘‘mountains to the sea’’, telling the story of water making its way from the mountains and into the sea.
The next workshop focused on seabirds, which included a cruise with Albatross Encounter and learning about the Hutton’s shearwaters.
‘‘We had a couple of crash-landed birds which we were able to release,’’ Dr Weir said.
Next up was a session on fur seals, which included going out on the boat with Seal Swim Kaikōura.
A session on dolphins was planned for this month, including a cruise with Dolphin Encounter.
More workshops are planned for marine invertebrates and reptiles in June and whales in July.
‘‘It’s very much a pilot to get proof of concept. It sold out immediately, so I offered some more spots,’’ Dr Weir said.
‘‘I’ve had multiple requests for more and for programmes for older young people.’’
She hopes to offer it again next year, if funding can be secured.
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
