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Learn about our beautiful taonga species, the Tūpoupou Hector's Dolphins and check out our games, activities, arts and crafts and how you can better protect them! Tūpoupou ~ Hector's Dolphin (Cephalorhynchus hectori ) The Tūpoupou or Hector's dolphin is one of the smallest oceanic dolphins in the world! Did you know they can ONLY be found in New Zealand? We even have our own population of Hector's right here in Marlborough! Follow along to learn all about our tiny Tūpoupou and enjoy the fun and games along the way! Tūpoupou Facts! The Hector's Dolphin, found only in New Zealand, are the world's smallest oceanic dolphins. There are two sub-species, the Maui's that are super rare and found in the North Island, and the Hector's Dolphin found along the coastlines of the South Island. You can easily identify them by their small, rounded black dorsal fin that looks like mickey mouse's ear popping out of the water! General Image Credit - Ailie Suzuki ACTIVITIES, CRAFTS, GAMES AND QUIZZES Throughout this page you'll find some fun activities and resources you can explore at home with your whānau and friends. Some of these resources have been put together with the help of our fantastic local organisations. A huge thank you to those people who have helped put these together for us, we appreciate your support! Don't forget to share your activities with us, either tag us on social media or email them to us at conservationkids@envirohub.co.nz Hector's dolphins are revered as a taonga by Maori. Some believe that the spirits of the dead would become tutumairekurai (Hector's Dolphins). Tutumairekurai is the most common of the Maori names for Hector's dolphin, meaning "ocean dweller". Papakanua, tūpoupou, hopuhopu and upokohue were names also used - these can vary depending on hapu and iwi. Image Credit - Ailie Suzuki Tūpoupou Facts! Te Ao Maori ACTIVITY - Tūpoupou / Hector Fact Wheel Tūpoupou Spinning Fact Wheel Have some fun making this spinning wheel of Hecto r 's facts. Download and print off the template, make it nice and col ourful ... and don't forget to add some of your own facts to it as well! Click the image to download the PDF sheet! Tūpoupou are social, but it' s not unusual to see them in small groups of less than 5 or 6. They tend to prefer shallower waters along the coastlines, which is why you can often spot them from the shore if you look at the right place at the right time! They general prefer waters shallower than 100m deep, and often in murky waters where their food likes to hang out. Tūpoupou Facts! Habitat Image Credit - Ailie Suzuki ARTS & CRAFTS - Make a Tūpoupou Puppet Tūpoupou Puppet Otago University have a fantastic Hector's Dolphin Puppet activity you can do at home! Click on the image to download the template and give it ago - don't forget to share the finished puppet with us. We would love to see your creation and your conservation message. Click the image to download! Tūpoupou Facts! Ecology & Diet Hectors are opportunistic and like to feed on a wide range of prey, but they mostly feed off bottom-dwelling fish and other species. This means food that swims or hangs along close to the ocean floor. Hector's like to feed on small red cod, āhuru flatfish, stargazer, sprat and arrow squid to name a few! GAMES - Food Web Game Grab some of your friends or whānua and have a go at the food web game. Learn all about the part Tūpoupou play with in the food cycle. Food Web Game This game aim s to demonstrate how the food chain works and how each species eats and the roles they play. This also shows the important role the Hector's play in the food chain and how their numbers can affect the entire food web. Click on the image t o find out how to play! (Video instructions coming soon). If you give this game a go with your class or some friends take a pic or video and share it with us! A baby Hector's Dolphin is called a calf. A female Tūpoupou typically has one calve every 2 to 4 years, which is not very often, especially as the adults only really live for around 25 years. The calves stay with their mothers for 1 to 2 years before heading out on their own. Tūpoupou Facts! Breeding Image Credit - Ailie Suzuki ACTIVITY - Test Your Knowledge Test your knowledge - Tūpoupou Facts Have a go at testing your knowledge on what you have learnt about the Hector's Dolphin. *HINT* You can find the answers to the questions right here on this page! Click on the image below to download the quiz and have a go. See how many you can answer! Click the image to download the quiz! Click the Hector to download the answers. Tūpoupou Facts! Crazy Facts! Did you know that Dolphins communicate by making very short, high-frequency clicking sounds and even various whistles. They also communicate by slapping their tails on the water or leaping into the air. Dolphins are also very tactile, meaning they like to touch and can even leave little marks on each other's bodies with their teeth! (These are called 'rake marks'). Image Credit - Ailie Suzuki Other Tūpoupou Resources Below you will find links to other Tūpoupou resources, click the images to take you to the websites. Check them out! Hector's Dolphin, Kiwi of the Sea by Michal Bush Little Hector meets Mini Māui by Ruth Paul Department of Conservation For more Hector information click the image DOC - Toyota Kiwi Guardian Activity Help look after the Hector's Dolphins by becoming a costal protector! Although the Toyota Kiwi Guardian programme has now finished and you can no longer claim the medals. The activates are still a fantastic way for your tamariki to help support our conservation and native species. Below is a link to the "Costal Protector " activity instructions! Explore a coastline near you, discover what wildlife lives there. Then take action to help protect it. Click the image to download a PDF Instruction sheet to learn how to become a Coastal Protector! Some of the biggest threats to not only our Tūpoupou / Hector's dolphins but also our Māui dolphins, are fishing nets. Dolphins can become entangled and trapped, and as they need to breathe air, they can die in a matter of minutes. Ocean pollution and litter is also a large concern and threat. Our Hector's can accidentally eat plastic and other rubbish, or be affected by illness caused by human impact. Because our Hector's and Māui like to live close to shore our boating activities can also be a threat. Hector's can be accidentally hit by boats or struck by propellers. Tūpoupou Facts! Threats Tūpoupou Facts! What YOU can do! Don't worry! There are lots of ways you can help protect our Tūpoupou Hector's and other dolphins, while still enjoying the ocean: Be a responsible with your rubbish, make sure you dispose of your rubbish correctly, so it doesn't end up in the ocean. If you are fishing, make sure you follow the correct rules to keep our Hector's safe. You can find them all here - Fishing Rules Dispose of your cat litter properly - cat feces are a source of the disease toxoplasmosis which can harm Hector's and Māui dolphins. We don't want it ending up in our oceans! Image Credit - Ailie Suzuki Act safely on the water around dolphins When out on a boat there are ways you can safely observe any marine life you come across including the Hector's dolphin. Click HERE to learn how you can safely share our coast lines with our beautiful taonga of the ocean. Image Credit - Department of Conservation NZ Visit a Tūpoupou - Hector Dolphin If you want to see Hector's here in Marlborough, why not head out to explore our beautiful sounds! Just remember wildlife is wildlife, they go where they want to so it is never a guarantee you will spot them, but keep an eye out just in case! Here are a few different business you can go explore the Marlborough Sounds with: Tūpoupou Punga Gallery Images from some of our Hector events 2023 Hector Day Event

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Zoe Luffman's Environmental Fund is a fund dedicated to supporting young women aged 13 to 18 years fighting to protect our local environments in Marlborough. Zoe Luffman's Environmental Fund "Each person leaves a print on the world. Identifying or building their legacy reminds us that their life mattered." - Dr. Denise Quinlan APPLY NOW Envirohub Marlborough officially launched the Zoe Luffman’s Environmental Fund in 2024 - uplifting and supporting young environmentalist women in Marlborough. The fund, constructed from the kind and generous donations from the community, including from within and beyond Marlborough, has been set aside for young women in Marlborough up to 21 years of age in support of their local environment projects. “Our goal is to truly support and uplift our young wāhine in Marlborough undertaking incredible things out there for our environment” says Envirohub Marlborough's Trustee, Ailie Suzuki. “Our inspiration for this fund, Zoe, and most of our organisation is made up of passionate, inspirational women, so we felt it appropriate to share our knowledge and experience, helping to boost, celebrate and nurture the next generation.”. “Through the generosity of our wonderful community we wish to funnel funds back into young people out there making a difference” adds Natasha Luxton, Conservation Kids NZ and Envirohub Marlborough Co-Founder and Trustee. “We also wish to provide guidance and direction through our various networks and connections, thus providing so much more than financial support alone.”. This fund was inspired by one of Envirohub Marlborough’s original Conservation Kids, Zoe, who from an incredibly young age was motivated to do what she could to protect the beautiful natural environment we all call home. From setting up the Long Island Litter Intelligence project to large-scale beach clean ups at her home of Rarangi, Zoe was determined to make a difference by starting local in order to have a greater global impact. In addition to the funds provided, Envirohub Marlborough also wishes to provide support via mentorship, guidance and providing connections to other networks, groups and organisations that are relevant to their project that may assist them in their journey. "When I was seven, I got involved with... conservation group[s] because I am passionate about the environment and I wanted to help. Then, when I was eleven, I got my dive ticket, so I was able to get involved with the dive clean-ups which is also a passion of mine... [My favourite part of being involved/volunteering is] when people finally start to understand that we need to do something to help this planet. Helping people gives me a huge boost of positivity as it's great to see people smiling!" Zoe Luffman. Excerpt from an interview about volunteering for Rarangi Dawn Chorus. DONATE This fund also welcomes any additional donations to keep the fund, and the support for these young Marlburian women, continuing for as long as possible. To donate, please go to: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/zoe-luffmans-environmental-fund to make your donation. Any funds collected via this page will automatically be allocated to Zoe Luffman’s Environmental Fund. Image thanks to the Ministry for Environment The Zero Waste International Alliance definition of zero waste is: “Zero Waste is a goal that is ethical, economical, efficient and visionary, to guide people in changing their lifestyles and practices to emulate sustainable natural cycles, where all discarded materials are designed to become resources for others to use.” Image thanks to the Zero Waste Network APPLY NOW I fit the criteria and would like to apply! Click on the button to the left to put in your application, or email info@envirohub.co.nz . I am a fund recipient and I need to do my accountability. Click the button to the right! Accountability

What is a Zero Waste Event and what are the benefits of a Zero Waste Event. Why host a Zero Waste Event? Zero Waste Events Zero Waste events aim to reduce waste as much as possible with the goal of all waste being recycled, composted or not created in the first place. A Zero Waste approach considers what waste might be created at your event, where it ends up and what can be eliminated or replaced with reusables. Zero Waste is a journey and it doesn't have to be all or nothing! Small steps towards reducing rubbish are a great way to start! Benefits of Zero Waste Events Lets your sponsors, funders and attendees know you care about sustainability Creates an eco-friendly vibe where everyone can feel proud of protecting the environment Reduces litter and needless rubbish adding to the landfill Spreads awareness about sustainable living and the circular economy Minimizes the cost of waste disposal - save $$ replacing rubbish bins with recycling bins Lowers costs for vendors by eliminating expensive disposable serveware. Interested in learning more about Zero Waste events? Want to have the Zero Waste Dishwashing Trailer and Recycling Stations at your events? Email zerowaste@envirohub.co.nz

Learn about our beautiful taonga species, the Tūpoupou Hector's Dolphins and check out our games, activities, arts and crafts and how you can better protect them! Moko kākāriki ~ Marlborough Green Gecko (Naultinus manukanus) Here in Aotearoa we have over 44 species of geckos! Some of which you can only find right here in Marlborough - including the very special Marlborough Green, or 'Manuka', Gecko. Gecko Facts! General There are a few ways you can spot the difference between a gecko and a skink. Geckos have broad heads with rounded snouts and large bulging eyes. They also have soft velvety-looking skin that sits almost loose on its body, whereas a skink's skin is tight and shiny. The Marlborough Green gecko is mostly an emerald, green colour, with a gold start like markings on them. Sometimes they can even be yellow in colour as well. Image Credit - Koru Native Wildlife Center ACTIVITIES, CRAFTS, GAMES AND QUIZZES Throughout this page you'll find some fun activities and resources you can explore at home with your whānau and friends. Some of these resources have been put together with the help of our fantastic local organisations. A huge thank you to those people who have helped put these together for us, we appreciate your support! Don't forget to share your activities with us, either tag us on social media or email them to us at conservationkids@envirohub.co.nz Image Credit - Ben Barr Māori first described the vocalizations of green geckos to Europeans as being like that of the kaka - laughter, being a repetitive call somewhere between a bark and a squeak. Māori call lizards (skinks and geckos) mokomoko. Geckos and skins were often believed to be evil and brought the feeling of miss fortune or death with them. Gecko Facts! Te Ao Maori Art - Gecko Colouring In Gecko Coloring In Download this fantastic gecko scene drawing by talented artist Larissa Larimar. Have fun colouring it in and don't forget to share it with us. We would love to see your creation! Click the image to download a PDF Sheet Marlborough green gecko is a tree-dwelling lizard, this is one of the reasons it is also called the Manuka Gecko. They like to live in low lying shrubs and small trees, with a particular fondness for Manuka and Kanuka trees. Geckos have 'sticky' feet! They have toe pads that are covered in thousands of microscopic hairs called setae. These hairs create an electromagnetic attraction known as van der Waals forces. This is what allows them to climb up walls, trees, rock... even upside down on the ceiling if they wanted to! Image Credit - Unknown Gecko Facts! Habitat CRAFT - Make a Pet Gecko Make your own pet gecko! Have a go at making your own pet gecko! You can decorate your pet gecko any way you like. You might like to create your own design or research what geckos are found in your area and decorate your pet gecko to look like them. You can find out more about the different types of geckos in NZ on the Department of Conservation website: Types of geckos: Lizards (doc.govt.nz) Click the image to download the PDF sheet! Gecko Facts! Ecology & Diet Like most of New Zealand Geckos, the Marlborough Green Geckos are omnivores, meaning they eat both plants and animals. Their diet mainly consists of insects such as moths, flies, small crickets, and larvae, however, they also eat some berries and take the nectar from certain flowers too. Image -Credit - Nick Harker Gecko GAMES Grab some of your friends or whānau and have a go at these fun Gecko games and activities. Predator Game This game helps to demonstrate the effects different predators have on our gecko population. You can also add in some cool gecko 'helping hands' to see how this can also affect our gecko population. Click on the image to download the instructions. If you give this game a go with your class or some friends take a pic or video a nd share it with us! Marlborough Green Geckos are very slow breeders, normally only breeding once a year. One of the things that makes our geckos so unique is that they give birth to live young rather than laying eggs. This is called being 'ovoviviparous' - the eggs hatch inside the gecko mum's body! Most of our NZ geckos only give birth to one offspring at a time, and only occasionally have twins. Image Credit - Jole Knight Gecko Facts! Breeding ACTIVITY - Test Your Knowledge Gecko Names Word Find Have fun testing your knowledge and see if you can find all the different Marlborough Geckos common names. If you want a real challenge see if you can find all of their scientific names awell! Click the image to download the quiz! Click the Gecko to download the answers. Gecko Facts! Did you know that geckos can't blink? They have transparent (see-through) eyelids that are are fused together. They have to lick their eyes with their spoon-like tongue to keep them from drying out. Can you reach your eyes with your tongue? Crazy Facts! Image Credit - Orana Wildlife Park Other Gecko Resources Below you will find links to other Gecko resources. These books can be found at most book shops and library's around NZ. You can also order them online. Gecko by Raymond Huber and Brian Lovelock GO Green Gecko by Gay Hay and Margaret Tolland Reptiles and Amphibians of NZ by Dyland van Winkel DOC - Toyota Kiwi Guardian Activity Become a Habitat Creator and make a Lizard Lounge for your backyard! Although the Toyota Kiwi Guardian programme has now finished and you can no longer claim the medals. The activi ties are still a fantastic way for your tamariki to help support our conservation efforts and our native species. Below is a link to the "Lizard Lounge " activity instructions! Make a Lizard lounge to help attracted Lizards and Geckos to your back yard. Click the image to download a PDF Instruction sheet to learn how to become a Habitat Creator! Some of the top threats to our NZ geckos are introduced predators, including mice, rats, hedgehogs, weasels, stoats, ferrets, cats, possums, and pigs. These predators are often active at night and hunt on the ground. Loss of habitat is also a large threat to the geckos. Clearing of grounds for human planting or building can cause geckos to lose their homes. But don't worry there is things you can do to help protect these amazing Geckos, keep reading below to find ways you can help out. Threats Gecko Facts! Image Credit - CKNZ Event, Marcus O'Donnell Gecko Facts! What YOU can do! So how can you help to protect our fantastic Geckos? There are lots of things you can do at home to help. Here are some things you can do: If you own a cat, keep it well feed and inside the house at night time. Put a bell on its collar to help alert our geckos to the cats presence. Help do predator tracking to find out if you have geckos in your back yard. More importantly do you have pests in your yard that might be harming them? Create areas in your garden for shelter for geckos, things like piles of bricks and sticks and branches. Old tin from sheds and lots of leaves and bushes. In the summer leave some small containers of water out for them around the fence line. Image Credit - CKNZ Event, Antonia O'Donnell Visit a Marlborough Green Gecko If you live in the Marlborough region, you can see some Geckos at these places below. Click the logo to be taken to their websites. Gecko Gallery Images fro m some of our Gecko events 2021 Gecko Day 2020 Koru Wildlife Visit

Envirohub Marlborough's Directory - find the organisations, businesses, groups in our community working for a more sustainable future. Community Directory and Map Wanting to live more sustainably? Looking to support a conservation organization? Need to know where to recycle something? Check out our Marlborough directory and map for all things eco-friendly. The map has been created by the Environment Hubs of Aotearoa as part of their Interactive Maps project. It is amazing, please use a computer to view as it is not yet set up to work on a mobile phone. Directory Menu Conservation Organisations Op Shops Recycling Alternative / Sharing Economy Climate Change Action Farm Stalls Community Garden Bulk Food Stores Ethical Fashion Retail Community Map Conservation Organisations Endeavour Inlet Conservation Trust Kaikoura Ocean Research Institute (KORI) Kaipupu Wildlife Sanctuary Koru Native Wildlife Centre Marlborough Falcon Conservation Trust Marlborough Sounds Restoration Trust Picton Dawn Chorus Te Hoiere Bat Recovery Project Op-Shops Havelock Charity Shop Marlborough Hospice Shop SPCA Op Shop St Vincent de Paul Salvation Army Family Store St John Opportunity Shop SaveMart The Blue Door Recycling Envirohub Marlborough Collection Point Recycling Mitre 10 Plant Pot Recycling MySpace Collection Point Recycling Recycling at the Transfer Stations Rural Community Recycling Trillo Metals Marlborough Warehouse Stationary Ink, Toner and Printer Cartridge Recycling Alternative / Sharing Economy Blenheim Menz Shed Blenheim Salvation Army Toy Library Havelock Menzshed Picton Men's Community Shed Renwick Menz Shed Repair Cafe Ritual Cafe - CupCycling cup swap program Unwanted Household Good Project Climate Change Action Climate Karanga Marlborough Farm Stalls Daltian Figs Fresh2U Organic Food Delivery Hedgerows Hydroponic Strawberries Isobel Olives Marlborough Farmer's Market Marlborough Food Network Oaklands Milk Old Road Estate Spudz n Greens Windsong Orchard Community Garden Waitohi Picton Community Garden Marlborough Community Garden Bulk Food / BYO Container Stores Bin Inn J Bush & Sons Honey Mr. Asian Picton Environment Centre The Karaka Kitchen The Vines Village Store Williams Green Grocers Ethical Fashion Retail Op Shops Recycling Climate Change Action Conservation Organisations Alternative / Sharing Economy Community Garden Farm Stalls Bulk Food Stores Ethical Fashion Retail Ethical Fashion

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Species Superstars As a part of our Save Our Species Programme which launched in 2023, we will select one stand-out individual during each event to be crowned the Species Superstar! We are seeking a tamariki who shows, in their own unique way, their passion and enthusiasm for the species and their protection. With each event, we will announce our Species Superstar. Each Superstar will also walk away with an awesome prize pack, to encourage and continue to inspire them to continue on their journey as kaitiaki. Check out our Species Superstars so far below! 2025 Species Superstars 2024 Species Superstars 2023 Species Superstars

Learn about our beautiful taonga species, the Tohorā | Southern Right Whale and check out our games, activities, arts and crafts and how you can better protect them! Tohorā Southern Right Whales (Eubalaena australis) Southern Right Whales are found throughout the Southern Hemisphere and are a native migrant to New Zealand. They are typically black in colour, have large paddle-shaped flippers and have a large head covered in callosities. Follow along to learn more about Tohorā below. Southern Right Whales are slow swimmers and also very acrobatic! They are easy to identify by their unique callosities on their heads. Callosities are large, white, rough growths that can be made up of parasitic worms, whale lice and barnacles. The callosities on a southern right are unique to each southern right making them easy to identify and track their movements. They also has a unique V blow, with the water rising in two columns to a height of 5m. Tohorā Facts! General ACTIVITIES, CRAFTS, GAMES AND QUIZZES Throughout this page you'll find some fun activities and resources you can explore at home with your whānau and friends. Some of these resources have been put together with the help of our fantastic local organisations. A huge thank you to those people who have helped put these together for us, we appreciate your support! Don't forget to share your activities with us, either tag us on social media or email them to us at conservationkids@envirohub.co.nz Image Credit - Andrea Izzotti Some tribes see whales as the descendants of Tangaroa, the god of the ocean. Whales possess a tapu (sacred) significance to Maori as both supernatural beings and as harbingers of personal change and spiritual growth. When whales appeared on long journeys by waka across the Pacific ocean, they were seen as a sign that the iwi should settle in that place. They were also seen as benevolent guardians when they swam alongside the waka, guiding the way through tumultuous Pacific storms towards the safety of land. Tohorā Facts! Te Ao Maori Art - Create Whale Watching Binoculars Binoculars Have fun making your own whale watching binoculars. Go out and explore the coastline and see what you can spot in the sea. Click the image to download the PDF! Tohorā Facts! Ecology & Diet Southern Rights feed on zooplankton in the cold nutrient-rich Southern Ocean. They are skim feeders and swim with their mouths open for long periods of time, filtering krill and plankton through their baleen plates. Baleen plates are made of keratin, the same substance which makes up our hair or fingernails. CRAFT - Tohorā Snacks Southern Right's Snacks Have some fun making an upcycled southern right whale from paper roll! Don't forget her baleen! Give your whale a name and make her some tasty snacks. This craft is to show how the large baleen plates in a baleen whale's mouth help to catch all their food! Don't forget to share your Tohorā with us, we would love to know its name. Click the image to download the PDF sheet! Tohorā live and migrate in the Southern Ocean. They are found in the South Atlantic between June and December. They migrate from the icy Southern Ocean to their breeding grounds in the South Atlantic along the African coastline. Click on the image to watch a video about how a group of Southern Right whales were discovered again in New Zealand, at the brink of extinction. Tohorā Facts! Habitat Tohorā GAMES Grab some of your friends or whānua and have a go at these fun Tohorā games and activities. How Baleen Works This activity aim s to demonstrate how baleen plates work and how whales uses them to eat. Click on the image to download the instructions. If you give this game a go with your class or some friends take a pic or video a nd share it with us! How Long is a Southern Right? This activity aim s to demonstrate how larg e/long a southern right is. Get your friends and family toge ther, using the cards, measure out and compare the different sizes of baleen whales and toothed marine mammals. Click on the image t o download the fact cards. Southern Right whales are mammals and give birth to live young, just like us humans. A baby whale is called a calf. Females usually give birth to their first calf when they are eight to ten years old. Female Southern Rights only produce a calf every 3-5 years. Tohorā Facts! Breeding ACTIVITY - Baleen whale or Toothed marine mammal? Test your knowledge - download the cards below and see if you can guess which are baleen whales and which are toothed marine mammals. Click the image to download the cards! Ever wonder how the Southern Right Whales stays warm while swimming in the cold waters of the Southern Ocean ?? Well they have blubber - a fatty substance below their skin that helps to keep them warm. Check out this neat video from SciShow Kids that demonstrates how blubber works. Have a go at it your self - Did the blubber keep your hand warm? Tohorā Facts! Crazy Facts! Other Southern Right Whale Resources Below you will find links to other Tohorā resources, click the images to take you to the websites. Check them out! NOAA Fisheries For more Tohorā information click the image below. Tohorā The Southern Right Whale by Ned Barraud Department of Conservation For more Southern Right whale information click the DOC image below. Southern Right Whales were hunted to near extinction in the 18-1900s. In 1920 there were only 400 left on the planet. The Souhthern Right whale gets it name from being the "right" whale to hunt. This was because they are so slow moving and are very buoyant in the water. Since whaling become illegal in NZ in 1978, NZ has made large efforts to help protect our whales and help bring the numbers back. Current threats to Tohorā include: predators, climate change, net entanglement, large boat strikes and ocean pollution. Check out the next Tohorā Fact to find out how you can help! Tohorā Facts! Threats Tohorā Facts! What YOU can do! So... How can you help protect our whales? Glad you asked! Firstly, help to reduce our plastic waste. Plastic can end up in our oceans and harm not only our whales but other marine species. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Refuse and Rot where possible! Keep an eye out for a beach cleanup near you and lend a helping hand. Image Credit - Envirohub Beach Clean Up event What can you do if you see a stranded whale? Reduce plastic use! If you'd like to be prepared to help in a whale stranding you can attend Marine Mammal Medic Course run by Project Jonah. Click HERE to find out what DOC does when there is a stranding. Image Credit - Department of Conservation NZ Act safely on the water around marine mammals When out on a boat there are ways you can safely observe any marine life you come across, especially whales and other marine mammals. Click HERE to learn how you can safely share our coast lines with our beautiful taonga of the ocean. Go Spot a Southern Right! KORI's annual Great Kaikoura Whale Count Each winter, around June/July, the Kaikōura Ocean Research Institute holds an annual whale count, where they count as many whales migrating past Kaikōura as they can. You can even vol unteer to head along and help them out and be a part of the action! Click on the KORI logo alongside to go to their website and find out more. Tohorā Whale Gallery Images from our Southern Right Whale events 2024 Whale Day

Learn about our beautiful taonga species, the Tūpoupou Hector's Dolphins and check out our games, activities, arts and crafts and how you can better protect them! Waiharakeke ~ Grass Skink Oligosoma aff. polychroma Clade 3 This skink was formally kn own as the "Common S kink" - because it was just that, common! The common skink has now been separated into 5 different species, one of which is our local Waiharakeke (Marlborough) Grass Skink. Image credit: South Marlborough grass skink (Kaikōura). © Samuel Purdie These little skinks are found not only in South Marlborough but also in small areas of the wider Marlborough Region. They grow up to 80mm long and their tail is longer than their body! Waiharakeke Grass Skink Facts! General Image Credit - Tony Jewell ACTIVITIES, CRAFTS, GAMES AND QUIZZES Throughout this page you'll find some fun activities and resources you can explore at home with your whānau and friends. Some of these resources have been put together with the help of our fantastic local organisations. A huge thank you to those people who have helped put these together for us, we appreciate your support! Don't forget to share your activities with us, either tag us on social media or email them to us at conservationkids@envirohub.co.nz Image Credit - Alexander Turnbull Library, Albert Percy Godber Collection (PA-Group-00048) Reference: PAColl-3039-1-012 Ngārara was the Māori kupu | word for all reptiles, Māori called both lizards and skinks Mokomoko. All Ngārara were seen as descendants of Punga - the son of Tangaroa, the sea guardian. All of the decendants of Punga were seen as ugly and repulsive. Lizards and geckos were often feared, linking them with Whiro, the atua of darkness, evil and death. Even though Māori feared them, they also thought of them as guardians, they were put near burial caves to watch over those who had passed away. Waiharakeke Grass Skink Facts! Te Ao Maori - Art - Colour a Skink Colour your Skink Waiharakeke Grass Skinks have some pretty neat colors and patterns on them. Have a go at colou ring in our own skink, see if you can create those vibrant colors and markings. Don't forget to share your finished creation with us, email us an image - conservationkids@envirohub.co.nz Click the image to download a PDF template. Waiharakeke Grass Skink Facts! Ecology & Diet Waiharakeke Grass skinks are heliothermic, which means they like to lay in the sun to gain their heat. They eat a wide diet of not only berries and fruits, but they also hunt prey like spiders and other small insects. Image Credit - Tom Heather CRAFT - Skink Puppet Make a Skink Puppet Have fun making your very own skink finger p uppet! Get creative with the colours and decide what kind of habitat / environment your skink lives in! Click the image to download the PDF sheet! Image Credit - Tim Harker Just like other grass skinks, the Waiharakeke Grass skink likes to live in open areas including coastal vegetation, rock piles, grassland, flaxland, shrubland, screes, forest margins, tussock and modified urban / suburban habitats. Often, they can be found hiding under rocks and logs. They can be found in the eastern parts of the Marlborough Sounds, in Kaikoura and in the Wairau Valley. Waiharakeke Grass Skink Facts! Habitat Waiharakeke Grass Skink Facts! Breeding The Waiharakeke grass skink matures at around two years old, it is then that the female goes on to breed. Female skinks can give birth to up to six babies at one time! Wow that is a lot, this normally happens in the warmer months in January and February. Image Credit - Tom Heather ACTIVITY - Who's, Who? Skink or Gecko Test your knowledge and see if you can work out what is a skink and what is a gecko? Use your research skills and see what you can find out about each of them. Click the image to download the quiz! Click the skink to download the answers. Did you know that skinks - including the Waiharakeke Grass skink - can amputate their own tails! They do this to help them escape predators, the predators can be distracted by the wiggling tail while the skink gets to safety. But don't worry they do grow back, just not as long as the orginal tail. Waiharakeke Grass Skink Facts! Crazy Facts! Other Waiharakeke Grass Skink Resources Below you will find links to other Skink resources, click the images to take you to the websites. Check them out! Department of Conservation Information on skinks online Reptiles and Amphibians of NZ by Dyland van Winkel Science Learning Hub | Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao Check out this cool video of a skink giving birth to its live young. DOC - Toyota Kiwi Guardian Activity Help attract Geckos and Skinks to your garden ! Although the Toyota Kiwi Guardian programme has now f inished and you can no longer claim the medals. The act ivities are still a fantastic way for your tamariki to help support our conservation efforts and to learn abou t native species. Below is a link to the "Lizard Lounge" activity! Help create a home at your place for our local lizards to hang out! Click the image to download a PDF Instruction sheet to learn how to attract Lizards to your garden! Waiharakeke Grass Skink Facts! Threats So, what are the biggest threats to our native skinks? Habitat disruption has had a big impact on them, but what do we mean by 'disruption'? Anything that effects their normal habitat, this could be things like the introduction of non-native species, like cats and dogs. It could also mean people planting nonnative plants or grasses into their environment. And of course, the damage to their habitat from people either exploring or altering where they live. So, what can we do to help? Follow below to find out!! Image Credit - Make Lemonade Webiste Image Credit - Tony Jewell How can you help our Native Skinks and Geckos? There are lots of ways you can help our native skinks to survive! - Avoid catching them, it's ok to look but please don't touch them, and if you do lift a rock to spot one. DO NOT DROP THE ROCK BACK DOWN as this might squash the little skink, just place it down gently. - Keep your cats inside at nighttime and put a bell on their collars to warn the skink of their presence. - Plant native trees or shrubs around your land that they like to live in, and avoid planting non-natives if possible. Waiharakeke Grass Skink Facts! What YOU can do! If you see a skink on eggs or eggs like this ---> Please get rid of these eggs, these are plague skink eggs. Our NZ native skinks give birth to live young, they do NOT lay eggs. Plague skinks are a threat to our native skinks because they take over their habitat and push them out. Leaving our native skinks with nowhere to live. One important thing you can do is always check your belongings for skink eggs. If you are moving house from an area you know has the plague skinks, check your belongings especially your outdoor gear for skink eggs, make sure you don't move them with you into a new area. Image Credit - Forest and Bird Visit a Waiharakeke Grass Skink Why not check out some areas near you to see if you can spot some skinks? Can you find some native ones? Or do you have plague skinks where you live? Head on over to the DOC website to read about the different skinks and see where they like to live. You can get an idea of where they might live in your area, then head out for a look. If you live in Marlborough/Blenheim, you can find Waiharakeke grass skinks at these places; - Marfells Beach - Rarangi Beach - Wither Hills Just remember if you're heading out on a skink hunt, make sure you don't disturb their habitat. If you lift a rock up to look under it, DO NOT DROP THE ROCK BACK DOWN, make sure you place it back down softly so as not to hurt the skinks, geckos or other species you might find. Waiharakeke Grass Skink Gallery Images from our most recent Skink event 2023 Waiharakeke Grass Skink Day

Envirohub Marlborough is proud to be a member of Environment Hubs Aotearoa and one of 15 EHA environment centres around NZ. Environment Hubs of Aotearoa Envirohub Marlborough is proud to be a member of Environment Hubs Aotearoa (EHA). We are one of 21 environment centres and hubs around Aotearoa that make up EHA. "We bring together 21 leading regional environmental organisations, from Kaitaia to Riverton. We provide our hubs with opportunities to partner and learn from each other, capacity and capability-building activities, and organisational development. Through a collaborative approach, our mahi empowers community organisations to increase social cohesion, community resilience and environmental stewardship." From the EHA website. Together, we have seen huge collective impact across the entire of Aotearoa. For more information on our fellow members and the work done by EHA check out our collective impact on their website: Or you can view the most recent Impact Report by clicking on the image or click on the button below: EHA member Collective Impact EHA Impact Report 2024 Environment Hubs Aotearoa is a Charitable Incorporated Society whose members are independent local community hubs that provide practical support for people to look after themselves, their neighbours and their environment. All members have strong local connections and individual strengths. In 2015 a national organisation was created that allows us to share our vast experience with each other and better empower more New Zealanders to create a thriving and sustainable Aotearoa. For more info, check out: www.environmenthubs.nz

Learn about our beautiful taonga species, the Tūpoupou Hector's Dolphins and check out our games, activities, arts and crafts and how you can better protect them! Kārearea ~ NZ Falcon Falco novaeseelandiae The Kārearea Falcon is endemic to NZ - meaning it can only be found here in Aotearoa. We have three types of Falcon in NZ: the Bush Falcon, the Eastern Falcon and the Southern Falcon. Follow along to learn more about our amazing birds of prey!! The content and resources on this page have kindly been put together with the support of the team at - Marlborough Falcon Trust - Make sure you go check them out! There are 38 species of Falcon found around the world but only one species is found here in NZ - the Kārearea. Today there are estimated to only be about 5,000-8,000 Kārearea left in NZ - making them a threatened species. Can you spot the NZ Falcon on our $20 bank note? Kārearea Facts! General ACTIVITIES, CRAFTS, GAMES AND QUIZZES Throughout this page you'll find some fun activities and resources you can explore at home with your whānau and friends. Some of these resources have been put together with the help of our fantastic local organisations. A huge thank you to those people who have helped put these together for us, we appreciate your support! Don't forget to share your activities with us, either tag us on social media or email them to us at conservationkids@envirohub.co.nz Image Credit - Mural found in Dunedin painted by Bruce Mahalski There is a Māori saying about how a kārearea’s cry would predict the weather, it goes like this: Ka tangi te kārewarewa ki waenga o te rangi pai, ka ua āpōpō. Ka tangi ki waenga o te rangi ua, ka paki āpōpō. Translation - When a kārearea screams in fine weather, next day there’ll be rain. When it screams in the rain, next day will be fine. Kārearea Facts! Te Ao Maori Art - Kārearea Face Mask DOC Kārearea Face Mask Department of Conservation have some really neat kids activities. Including this NZ Falcon face mask , click the image to download the PDF and get colouring! Click the image to head to their website! Kārearea Facts! Ecology & Diet Kārearea are called 'Birds of Prey' because they hunt other animals like smaller birds, rabbits and hares. NZ Falcons can fly up to 100kms per hour hunting from up high before diving down to attack their prey. Image -Credit - Marlborough Falcon Trust CRAFT - Make a Kārearea Scrape Make a Kārearea Scrape Have a go at making your very own Kārearea scrape - Falcon nest. You can even add some eggs to your nest, how many eggs did your falcon lay this season? Click the image to download the PDF sheet! Image Credit - Fern, Marlborough Falcon Trust Kārearea are mostly found in the bush and steep high country throughout Aotearoa. Here in Marlborough they are commonly found around the vineyards hunting for food. The only area of NZ you do not see them as often is the far north of the North Island. Kārearea Facts! Habitat Kārearea GAMES Grab some of your friends or whānau and have a go at these fun Kārearea games and activities . Rob the Kārearea Nest Have a go at this fun game to help demonstrate how predators affect the Falcon nests. Learn what you can do to help them to survive. Click on the image to download the instructions. If you give this game a go with your class or some friends take a picture or video a nd share it with us! Kārearea Facts! Breeding Kārearea make their nest on the ground, and it is called a 'scrape'. Each breeding season, between spring and summer they can lay anywhere between 1-4 eggs. The baby chicks hatch around 31 days and stay in the nest for up to 45 days before leaving. Check out this very cute video from Marlborough Falcon Trust of two birds feeding their chicks. ACTIVITY - Test Your Knowledge Test your Kārearea Knowledge Have a go at testing your knowledge on o ur native falcon, see what you have learnt. Click the image to download the quiz! Click the Falcon to download the answers. Image Credit - Marlborough Falcon Trust Did you know that the female Kārearea is bigger than the male? Female Kārearea can weigh around 500grams where the male is only about 350grams. In this photo you can see the size difference between local Marlborough Falcon Trust residents Dash and Wilson. Female falcon Dash is on the left and male falcon Wilson is on the right. Kārearea Facts! Crazy Facts! Other Kārearea / NZ Falcon Resources Below you will find links to other Kārearea resources, click the images to take you to the websites. Check them out! Marlborough Falcon Conservation Trust Website Wingspan, National Bird of Prey Centre Website Kārearea Fearless Falcon by Annemarie Florian Kārearea NZ Falcon by David Bell Kārearea Kids Activity Pack By Green Grubs DOC - Toyota Kiwi Guardian Activity Help look after our Kārearea NZ Falcons by becoming a Backyard Detective! Although the Toyota Kiwi Guardian program has now finished and you can no longer claim the medals, the activities are still a fantastic way for your tamariki to help support conservation and learn about native species. Below is a link to the "Backyard Detective" activity instructions! Make a tracking tunnel to find out what pest species you have in your backyard. Then you will know what action to take to help protect our Kārearea nests. Click the image to download a PDF Instruction sheet to learn how to become a Backyard Detective! Kārearea Facts! Threats Because our Kārearea like to make their nest on the ground they are often targeted by pests. Stoats, rats, cats and even dogs can steal their eggs. Another common threat to Falcons is actually powerlines! Falcons often perch on powerlines to stalk their prey, but when they open their wings to take flight, they can accidently hit the fittings on the transformer and be electrocuted. Fortunately, power companies such as Marlborough Lines are insulating their fittings when they do maintenance on the lines to help protect our Kārearea. Image Credit - Marlborough Falcon Trust Image Credit - Predator Free NZ So how can we help out native Kārearea? The best way to help our Kārearea is to protect their nests, you can do this by helping to control predators in your area. If you know of a falcons nest in your area, make sure you keep away from it. Be a responsible cat and dog owner by keeping your pets away from their nest and carry out pest control around your property. To help with predator control in your community, head on over to Predator Free NZ and get involved. Kārearea Facts! What YOU can do! Visit a Kārearea NZ Falcon How to tell the difference between a Falcon and a Swamp Harrier (Hawk) in the wild. You can see some of our local native falcons up close at the Marlborough Falcon Conservation Trust - Head on over to their website to find out more. Learn more about how to tell the difference HERE! Kārearea / NZ Falcon Gallery Images from some of our Kārearea Falcon events 2023 Kārearea NZ Falcon Day