26 April, 2024

Second Pupukemoana proves popular

What a view… Ankit Marothiya (left) and Deepika Khadolia came from home in central Auckland to discover more about Lake Pupuke

Oarsome experience… Eric Webster helped attendees launch into kayaking on the lake

Team effort… Organisers and helpers, including (from left) Pupuke Birdsong Project environmental coordinator Tabitha Becroft, chair Rachael Pates, volunteer David Morrison, Takapuna North Community Trust staff Maisie Ramsay and Georgia Pringle, and trust manager Natasha Geo, with part-time staffer Ben Zhang (rear), who took a bilingual session on pests and plants, and Asian community liaison and events coordinator Grace Samuelson

Dads and daughters… Brian Wolfman (Left image) and five-year-old twin daughters Aria and Lexie arrived from Milford by bike, while David Anderson (Right image) brought his two girls, Iris, aged 7 (left) and Stella, 8, from Devonport

Taking the plunge… A group of snorkellers is kitted out and given a briefing before exploring the depths

Key info… Healthy Waters biosecurity team members Belinda Studholme (above, left) and Madison Jones, offered advice.

Jeff Zhao brought 18-month-old daughter Chloe along from home in Hillcrest for the day

The second annual Discover Pupukemoana event drew more than 500 people to learn more about Lake Pupuke this month.
Many took the chance to kayak on the lake or use the gear provided to go snorkelling.
Others stayed ashore, enjoying workshops and stalls and the tranquil surrounds.
Tabitha Becroft, the environmental coordinator for event organisers Pupuke Birdsong Project, said even though the weather on 14 April was more unpredictable than for the inaugural event last year, it stayed fine enough for everyone to have a good time.
The snorkelling tours and a weaving workshop, at which people made harakeke fish, proved the most popular activities, she said.
Bilingual workshops on pests and plants were held in English and Chinese.
Held in Killarney Park, the event was hosted to raise awareness of the importance of Lake Pupuke to the local ecosystem.

Please consider supporting The Rangitoto Observer by clicking here: