Marine kaitiaki guardians from Kaitaia to Otago rewarded with Poor Knights snorkel experience!
The annual EMR competition trip is made up of representative students from each school that that participates in the programme. We now offere the trip to all eight regions where EMR is operating, thanks to sponsorship from Dive! Tutukaka and the Bobby Stafford-Bush Foundation.
The trip started in 2002 with just three students from three Northland schools, a total of 301 schools and 441 students have now participated in this trip. The participation of EMR representative students from the regions is thanks to the Bobby Stafford-Bush Foundation (including flights, transfers, accommodation and charter for the parents).
Students were selected based on their action projects undertaken and enthusiasm they show when studying & experiencing the marine environment. The EMR programme involves leaning about marine biodiversity in the classroom, snorkelling in the pool, and investigating the local marine environment before experiencing a marine reserve and taking action with regards to marine conservation in their communities. The national expansion of EMR in the regions is supported by the Tindall Foundation and the DOC Community Fund
“The standards of action projects that go beyond the school environment were superb. Students were involved in a variety of projects that address local marine issues such as presentations on marae, campaigning council and writing letters to the editor” says programme director Samara Nicholas.
“This competition offers the students added incentive to produce projects and positive actions towards marine conservation within their community. It is not only a special opportunity for the students, but for their parents/guardians too, as they also get a chance to experience the magical Poor Knights, which is a new opportunity for all from the regions’’ says programme director Samara Nicholas
The Bobby Stafford-Bush – EMR Ocean Art prize - Read the criteria here In addition to the opportunity to represent the school or region for the EMR ACTION prize, we introduced a new prize this year, the Bobby Stafford-Bush – EMR Ocean Art prize. The Bobby Stafford-Bush Foundation supports this special prize for young kiwis that have experienced the marine environment with EMR and display that passion and experience through art.
Northland Pukenui School - Jamie Valadares Pukenui Schoiol - Chelsea Rae Kamo Intermediate - Lily-Mae Smith Kamo Intermediate - Lily Sioch Waipu Primary School - Sidney Ellis Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Tonga o Hokianga - Croatia Rudolph Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Tonga o Hokianga - Keishana Davies-Moon Totara North - Cameron Mitchell Pompallier - Ryan Taylor Paparore -Caedance Brown Whangarei Girls High- Taylor Dackers Tikipunga High- Olivia Bratty Whangarei Girls High - Jorja Collings Maungakaramea - Pippa Ryder
Auckland Warkworth Primary School - Alex Gray Warkworth Primary School - Zoran Munro Koru School - Georose Tuineau-Lafaele Orakei School- Iohanna Patuwai Tamaki College - Talya Te Puawaitanga O te Aroha Tamariki Tamaki College- Charlie Murray Waterview School - Alexander Hutchinson-Jones
Coromandel Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Harataunga - Rosa Ballard Coroglen - Aria Rae Macdonald
Gisborne Kaiti School - Wirimu Ropiha Makauri School - Stephen Bennett
Taranaki Puketapu School - Kalilah Fitzsimons Whanuakura School - Lorcan Honeyfield
Wellington Newtown - Ella Katherine Wellington Wellington Seventh-Day Adventist School - Xinia Fe Haban
Nelson Riwaka - Isla Bell-Chambers Brooklyn School - Harper Kelly
Otago Otago Boys High - Thomas Pope John McGlashan College - Jonah Coleman
Northland Hurupaki School Kade Cuff Kamo Intermediate Tyrese Job Ahipara School Hinetai Punshon Kaitaia Intermediate Danny Evans Whananaki School Beau Chillcott Poroti Hana Thomson Hurupaki Addison Van Engelen Raurimu Avenue School Noel McQueen Matarau Riley Hutchinson Whau Valley Jacquelene Hauraki Home Educators Anise Powell Ruawai Koaria Bristow Dargaville Intermediate Danielle Norman Te Kopuru Katie Nelson Ngataki/Te Hapua Stah'Rosa Poutai Auckland Edgewater College Marley Reneaus Cymeon Lavema Paerata Braedyn Northcoft Manurewa High Annalise Wood Edgewater College Jason Olo Warkworth Primary Ridley Keeling Coromandel Whenuakite School Lily McEwen Whenuakite School Chloe Burn Gisborne Awapuni School Tahurakau Mackey Makaraka Max Gaddum
Taranaki Makahu Libby Hopkirk Auroa Teague Mullin Wellington Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ngā Mokopuna Waimarama Tapiata-Bright Paekakariki School Frances McLaughlan Nelson St Peter Chanel School Madison Bradley St Peter Chanel School Finn Campbell Otago Kings High Alex Petersen-Sharp Kings High Angus Norton
2017 list of student attendees and schools: Auckland Fairburn Pauline Lavulavu Falakiseni Fairburn Jordan Kington Brookby Breyne Partridge Papatoetoe Dahnel Thompson Mahurangi Flynn Burke Mahurangi Joshua Perkinson Mahurangi Jayden Early Brookby School Addison Duffin (Bobby Stafford-Bush EMR Ocean Art)
Northland Kamo Intermediate Hunter Nisbet Kohukohu Samantha Beeching Herekino Nevaeh Smith BOI International Lucas Thomas Whangaruru Ariki Reti Kamo Primary Taika Mataira Kamo Primary Te Paea (Bobby Stafford-Bush EMR Ocean Art) Charlie Carpenter (Home school - Seaweek action representative) Alex Edwards (Kerikeri High - Seaweek photo competition winner)
Coromandel Tairua School -Emily Ryan Tairua School -Stevie Kay Keyte (Bobby Stafford-Bush EMR Ocean Art)
Gisborne Lytton High Matthew Day Makauri school Nanaka Yamada (Bobby Stafford-Bush EMR Ocean Art)
Wellington Island Bay School Zachary Buyck St Annes Panela Taualii (Bobby Stafford-Bush EMR Ocean Art)
Taranaki Highlands Intermediate Daniel Campbell St Pius X School Sasha Maclean (Bobby Stafford-Bush EMR Ocean Art)
Nelson Lower Moutere School Johnny MacLennan Brooklyn School Kate Burnett (Bobby Stafford-Bush EMR Ocean Art)
Otago Kings High Scott Butler Pollock King High Nikolai Romanov-Grey (Bobby Stafford-Bush EMR Ocean Art )
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Tonga O Hokianga - Chanz Wikaira-Handley Kamo Primary Finn Gilbert Keene Hora Hora Stephanie Palmer Broadwood Jazmine Murray Hurupaki Addison Weir and Georgia Cross (Bobby Stafford-Bush – EMR Ocean Art) Otaika Valley Johnnie Holder Kaitaia Int Ayla Sutherland Kaitaia home school Dyvani-Lee Thomason Daly Pakotai - Cleveland Pou Matauri - Takoha Lunjevich Auckland
Gladstone Primary Elka Aitchison Gladstone Angus Edwards Mahurangi College - Cormac Blennerhassett Mahurangi - Ryan Torckler Mahurangi Trace Savage Mahurangi Leilani Jones (Bobby Stafford-Bush – EMR Ocean Art) Warkworth Primary - Billy Wilbermoth Coromandel
Summer de Thierry (Paeroa Central School ) John Canlass (Opoutere School) (Bobby Stafford-Bush – EMR Ocean Art) Gisborne Gisborne
Quintisha Higgins (Honey) Whangara School Emmerson Jessie Brownlie Gisborne Central School (Bobby Stafford-Bush – EMR Ocean Art) Taranaki
Catherine Joyce Butler St Pius X School, New Plymouth, Bethanie Louise Luke St Pius X School New Plymouth (Bobby Stafford-Bush – EMR Ocean Art) Wellington
Harry Frederick Poppelwell Hampton Wellington Rolan Terence Rabino St. Anne's School (Bobby Stafford-Bush – EMR Ocean Art) Nelson
Liam Bryn Hobbs - Brooklyn School Jessie Riley - Ngatimoti School Motueka (Bobby Stafford-Bush – EMR Ocean Art) Otago
Arlo James Munro Kings High Oliver Niblock Kings High (Bobby Stafford-Bush – EMR Ocean Art)
The students came from as far as Kaitaia to Taranaki and included;
Kaipara District
Dargaville Intermediate -Meg Bradley, Kiana Raeli, Marnie Jones, Alex Rope, Shontelle Clement, Lani Fairbairn, Jackson Nichols Whangarei District
Kaurihohore - Jessica Lang Matarau - Isabell Attwood Whananaki – Kiritote Mackie Te Kura Hourua ki Whangaruru – Freedom Haika, Ryanne Haika Whangaroa District (Far North)
Totara North - Anna-lee Davies-Sherwin Whangaroa College - Paula Harris, David Frear Far North District
Oruaiti School - Leela Brown, Kendal Wyatt-Logan, Aaliyah Harrison-Duval, Camryn Wyatt-Logan Bay of Islands (Far North)
Oromahoe School - Eloise Drayton Springbank School - Noortje Nederlof Auckland
Mahurangi College - Emily Martin, Naia Doak, Intuane Faale, Ben Holland, William Paddison, William Patterson, Cayle Farmiloe, Jordon Vegar Bucklands Beach Intermediate Jean Loh, James du Plessis Hauraki District (Coromandel)
Tairua School – Harry Evans Taranaki District
St Pius X School - Drew Fraser Huirangi school - Alex Woodmass
Waipu Primary School Rhys Davies & Jack Boakes Ruakaka Primary School Nikayla Abel Bream Bay College Ruby McGinity, Sam Moffat, Anna Worthington, Seyerus Miller. Whangarei District
Kamo Intermediate Michaela Crawford, Lewis Miller, Piper Mortimer, Anton Watkins-McEwen Maungakaramea School Baxter Skudder Onerahi Primary Luka Clarke Far North District
Pompallier Catholic School Trent Buckingham Kaitaia Intermediate Claudia Blakeborough Kaitaia Hm Schoolers Dyvani Lee Thomason Daly & Shania Jones Bay of Islands
Whangaruru School Kiri Toatahi Te Kura O Waikare Te Ariki & Andi Maromaku School Jasmine Bailey Mahurangi (Warkworth)
Mahurangi College Stephanie Earley, Jackson Crawford, Charlotte Hamer, James Baker, Ava Ward Stuart & Zane Just Taranaki District
Manukorihi School Tom Butler Mimi School Zed Stewart – Cranson
Eve Robson-Clark - Kerikeri Primary Meg Murray, Megan Bramley - Springbank School Sandy Whare - Kaikohe West School Taylor Balll & Matariki Moetara -Onerahi Primary School Beth Docking & Kathryn Hudson - Mahurangi College Darren Prime, & Rayna Dangen - Raurimu Avenue Meegan Soulsby, Ashley Couling, Maea Shepherd, Lochiel Espiner, Ashley Allbon - Kamo Primary School Abby McGeorge - Churchill Parks Rangiwewehi Fletcher & Raninikura Waitai – Henare - Kura Kaupapa Maori O Te Rangi Aniwaniwa Jessica McLean, Naomi Peti, Tahlia Rogers Brown, Nathan Stirling, Ashleigh Yates, Reagan Wakeling, Caitlin Kumar- Dargaville Int Bjorn Aslund - Oromahoe School Nina Griffiths - Pamapuria School Shania Panther - Peria School Bream Bay College - Moengaroa Kailahi Other participating schools that did not make it on trip included Te Huruhi (Waiheke), Windy Ridge School and Ruakaka School
Mila Urlich & Anna Burton - Kerikeri Primary Nayman Cork-Peters - Purua School Chloe Neil & Reumah Horne - Matarau School Brooke Edwards & Kalia Topia - Kamo Intermediate Kyran Vette & Taylor Campbell - Onerahi Primary School Taira de la Cour & Tyler Hynde - Opua School Kesia Accourt - Homeschooler Julia - Whangarei Girls High Nikita Sutton- Whangarei Intermediate Kitana Kelly & Joshua Takiari - Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Otangarei Aisha Atherton, Rosie Harris & Billy Hamilton - Parua Bay School Zoe Stonex & Theo Houte - Whangarei Heads School Jacob Webster & Joshua Hansen - Otamatea High School Bailey Howell & Te Rima Smith - Broadwood Area School Te Wiremu Mercer from Waima School (Northland Health Camp) Molly Tauroa - Te Kura O Hato Hohepa Arin Smith - Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Te Tonga O Hokianga Annalea Jenkins & Charlie May Clarke - Whau Valley School Hanani Kanter & Mana Ashby - Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Te Rawhitiroa Absent on trip: Deanne Carpenter & Te Ata Pene - Whangaruru School Ashley Le Valance - Opononi Area School
Toni Rouse - Kaeo Primary Charlie Capill & Sherry Harris - Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Kaikohe Wayne Murray, Chad Scrivener - Herekino School Jackson Snowden & Dawson Edwards - Kaikohe West School Lauren Goble - Kaitaia Intermediate Emily Powell, Maddison Fox, Freya-Rose Newman, Jodie Rees, Lucy Griffiths- Dargaville Intermediate Sammy Ring - Northcross Intermediate Celina Westbrook - Kamo Intermediate Joshua Doidge - Onerahi Primary Michael Smedley - Tauraroa Area Manning Reynolds - Mangakahia Area School Toki & Emma Brickell -Whangarei Girls High Kimmy Holtz -Manaia View School Rameka Clarke - Te Horo Ruby Kawiti & Susan Turney -Whangarei Intermediate Hannah Blackwell & Ashley Maher - Leigh School Malachi Harris -Pakiri School.
Zoe Littlejohn - Whangarei Intermediate Liam Hailes - Kokopu School Becky Davidson, Chenae Sketchley, Jordanah Thomas - Kamo Intermediate Rhiannon Sim - Waipu Primary Cheyenne Heke - Totara Grove School Clelland Renolds - Mangakahia Area School Annelies Griemink - Parua Bay School Casey Clarkson - Kohukohu School Temoananuiakiwa Korewha - Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Te Tonga O Hokianga Blossom Van Boxel - Opononi Area School Hemaima Proctor - Broadwood Area School Summah Green, Keegan Fyfe - Whananaki School - Anine Esterhuizen - Te Kopuru School Mia Tong - Otamatea High Olivia Jellick - Kamo High Sch Josh Goldfinch - Bay of Islands College
Sean Cochrane - Opua School Blake Gunn - Pompallier School Nicolle Clotworthy - Onerahi Primary School Jonathan Taylor - Northland College Harriet Duley - Pakaraka School Alex Birchall - One Tree Point School Siobhan Wakeling-Geange & Katie Humm (sponsored by EMR) - Dargaville Intermediate Cheyenne Field - Karetu School Devon Beatson - Te kura Kaupapa Maori O Pukemiro Brandon Neho - Kaitaia Intermediate Sarianna Crook - Homeschoolers Sheldon Radovanovich - Manaia View School Peara Rawiri - Whangaruru School Hazel Buchanan - Whangarei Intermediate Elizabeth Dunn - Te kura Taumata O Panguru Jessica Bullen - Kamo High School Shona lee Lawrence Samuels - Matauri Bay School Taipa Area School & Otangarei School students did not attend
Sian Sullivan-Mangles - Ahipara School Paris Rudolph - Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Te Rawhiti Roa Faith Te Kani - Ngaiotonga Valley School Chelsea Isaacs-Mathewson - Whangarei Intermediate Yeshi Brown - Peria School Emma Baker - Parua Bay School Wiripo Manuera - Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Rangiawhia Hine Naicovi - Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Rangiawhia Ana Bassett - Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Rangiawhia
Shelisa Bruce - Te Tii School Tyla Stevenson - Kaitaia Intermediate Maria Buller - Oromahoe School Jerrikah Byrne - Opua School Bella Burgess - Auckland Girls Grammar Sabrina Puia - Orakei School
Jacob Brown - Whangarei Heads School Kimberly Desmond - Taipa Area School Tony Moses - Helena Bay School Hayley Douglas - Ngunguru School Jade Ruka & Holly Worthington - Russell School
Presented by Experiencing Marine Reserves . Supported by the Department of Conservation and Pacific Coast Kayaks
Come and explore our local marine reserve by kayak. Learn first-hand about the marine life that lives there and get kayaking tuition from professionals.
Marine kaitiaki guardians from Kaitaia to Otago rewarded with Poor Knights snorkel experience!
The annual EMR competition trip is made up of representative students from each school that that participates in the programme. We now offere the trip to all eight regions where EMR is operating, thanks to sponsorship from Dive! Tutukaka and the Bobby Stafford-Bush Foundation.
This year we are excited to be hosting a charity dinner fundraiser at Wahi, Tutukaka on the 27th July 2018.
The theme for our 2018 Charity Dinner is ‘Mountains to Sea’’ (fancy dress as your favorite marine or freshwater creature). The evening is hosted at Wahi and will involve a 3 course meal, fundraising auctions, entertainment and live music! Get your tickets from www.emr.org.nz/shop
In 2012, Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) was part od the inaugural Young Blake Expedition to the Kermadecs. With the aim of inspiring New Zealanders to understand the global significance of the Kermadec Islands and to encourage stewardship of the Kermadec Marine Reserve and the planet's oceans generally, The Sir Peter Blake Trust, together with EMR, the Ministry for the Environment, the Royal New Zealand Navy, Department of Conservation, Pew Environment Group, Air New Zealand and LEARNZ, achieved this goal and successfully followed in the footsteps of Sir Peter to mobilise and inspire the next generation of kiwi leaders, adventurers and environmentalists.
Experience the wonders of your local marine environment or marine reserve! The EMR programme organises Community Guided Snorkel Days around the country. We provide free hire for all the snorkel equipment and provide experienced snorkel guides to lead your discovery. Our events for Northland and Auckland for 2019-20 are now out! As the events go live you can check them out on our event calendar or our Facebook page has all the events loaded www.facebook.com/emr.mtsct
The purpose is to provide an inspirational professional development and networking opportunity for all those involved or interested in freshwater and marine conservation. Usually held in April, in Northland every second year and other parts of NZ every other year. Our theme changes each wananga. Our theme for 2019 was “He Wai Rangatira” defines or denotes the underlying ancestral, spiritual, strategic and economic significance of the water to us as a people and/or as a partnership with papatuanuku.
Take a look at our2019 proceedings here and see video clip below
Seaweek 29 Feb - 8th March 2020 "Toiora te Moana - Toiora te Tangata - Healthy Seas, Healthy People". EMR is planning heaps of groovy events! Take a look at our event calendar
To celebrate World Ocean Day on Sunday the 8th June and as part of an Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) action project, Campbell Mosely of Whananaki School organised a ‘cutting kerbside clean up’.
The world’s first human chain around the world’s first student-driven marine reserve was a success. 1005 Northland students, parents’ teachers and community members formed the chain around the landward boundary of the Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve at Reotahi (Motukaroro) on 16 September 2009.
PoorKnightsCompetitionTrip_Criteria_2020.pdf
Marine kaitiaki guardians from Kaitaia to Otago rewarded with Poor Knights snorkel experience! 
In 2012, Experiencing Marine Reserves (EMR) was part od the inaugural Young Blake Expedition to the Kermadecs. With the aim of inspiring New Zealanders to understand the global significance of the Kermadec Islands and to encourage stewardship of the Kermadec Marine Reserve and the planet's oceans generally, The Sir Peter Blake Trust, together with EMR, the Ministry for the Environment, the Royal New Zealand Navy, Department of Conservation, Pew Environment Group, Air New Zealand and LEARNZ, achieved this goal and successfully followed in the footsteps of Sir Peter to mobilise and inspire the next generation of kiwi leaders, adventurers and environmentalists.
Experience the wonders of your local marine environment or marine reserve! The EMR programme organises Community Guided Snorkel Days around the country. We provide free hire for all the snorkel equipment and provide experienced snorkel guides to lead your discovery. Our events for Northland and Auckland for 2019-20 are now out! As the events go live you can check them out on 
The purpose is to provide an inspirational professional development and networking opportunity for all those involved or interested in freshwater and marine conservation. Usually held in April, in Northland every second year and other parts of NZ every other year. Our theme changes each wananga. Our theme for 2019 was “He Wai Rangatira” defines or denotes the underlying ancestral, spiritual, strategic and economic significance of the water to us as a people and/or as a partnership with papatuanuku. 
Seaweek 29 Feb - 8th March 2020
Caring for the ocean begins on land – 2014
The world’s first human chain around the world’s first student-driven marine reserve was a success. 1005 Northland students, parents’ teachers and community members formed the chain around the landward boundary of the Whangarei Harbour Marine Reserve at Reotahi (Motukaroro) on 16 September 2009.
