Greetings from the EcoQuest Faculty and Staff
Kia ora tatou!
EcoQuest is humming. The "let's learn" whirlwind, so typical of the atmosphere at EcoQuest, has gathered momentum for this semester. Our new team of students has had a brilliant run of weather, but as always, the warmth from the people far outstrips that of the sun any time!
In our peaceful setting, framed by Tikapa Moana (the Firth of Thames), the Coromandel Peninsular, and the Hunua Ranges, the EcoQuest campus is a hive of activity. Group living generates shared tasks, interests, and learning new skills. Our work to achieve sustainability goals on a small scale is ongoing. The current group of students is enjoying the fruits of the last semester's gardening efforts: salad greens were ready when this team arrived, fresh tomatoes are available every day, and eggplants and tamarillos are ripening! Composting and feeding the chickens are among the daily chores. We look forward to planting more fruit trees once the weather turns cool at the end of this semester.
Our powhiri (welcome) at the Wharekawa Marae * (our local marae, just 200 metres up the road) was a special occasion. Each time we enter through the gate, all 'old' EQ-ers are with us, growing in numbers and adding memories. In keeping with past groups of students, this team also managed to learn a waiata (song) at short notice. They carried this off well, thus increasing Jono's mana as he led them onto the paepae. Our relationship with the marae strengthens with each group of students. As well as extending the unconditional welcome, and the sharing of history and people, we were offered a great morning tea, true to the hospitality for which our people are known.
During their first three weeks at EcoQuest, the "spring" 2005 semester (New Zealand late summer & autumn) students have had many opportunities for hands-on learning. Led by Ria, John, Sally, Elizabeth, and Matt, they have hiked in the bush, scaled the Pinnacles (where some of the students encountered a Hochstetter's frog!), spent a week studying the estuarine wetlands at Opoutere, and traveled far and wide during their restoration ecology week, which included site visits to Tiritiri Matangi, Maungatautari, and the Hunua Ranges. Wendy has just returned from guiding a birding-tour for three weeks, and she joined the team as they left for Leigh Marine Laboratory and the Poor Knights.
In addition to the EcoQuest team of multi-skilled teachers, mentors, and scientists, our students engage with an extensive network of scientists, policy makers, planners, resource managers, and community members who work with us around the country. During our restoration ecology week, staff from the Department of Conservation, the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust, and a senior ranger from Auckland Regional Council contributed to the programme. At Leigh, our students are learning how to carry out under-water surveys guided by guest lecturer Dr Roger Grace.
The EcoQuest programmes take you to many parts of New Zealand, and expose you to a wide variety of environmental and people-related issues. Together, we will consider the management of natural resources from many different angles while holding firmly to the philosophy that sustainable use of resources is only possible if environmental, socio- economic and cultural issues are addressed. We provide a strong focus on conceptual thinking, rigorous field skills, and problem solving, while fostering intellectual curiosity and cultural awareness. Our students make a commitment to being part of a dynamic team, learning-by-doing, and broadening their horizons.
When you leave New Zealand, you can expect to have a clearer understanding of how to work effectively to find solutions, implement changes, and work with people from a variety of disciplines toward common goals.
The faculty and staff at the EcoQuest Education Foundation consider it a privilege to work with forward-thinking students who are strongly motivated to make a commitment to personal growth and involvement with the wider world. We hope that you, along with many of our program participants, will be inspired by the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution toward real-time management issues and practical research.
Our EcoQuest team invites you to join us in New Zealand, no matter what your chosen paths (career or personal) will be. Please don't hesitate to contact our Admissions Office for more information about the application process.
We look forward to seeing you "down under"!
* Marae have been part of the community scene for centuries. They have traditionally been the focal point of Maoridom. A marae is a place of greatest mana, and greatest spirituality; it is a place that heightens people's dignity, a place where Maori customs are given ultimate expression, a place of belonging, where Maori may stand tall.