Tomahawk Lagoon

Year 7's future proofing the Lagoon with an authentic community-based PBL.

This year, the Tomahawk Lagoon Group is teaming up with experts from the Otago Regional Council (ORC) and ECo-TAGo, University of Otago, as well as local community members, to create new signs for the lagoon area.

Yesterday, students began the project by working with Janice Huang (ORC) and Andrew Innes (ECo-TAGo). Together, they explored the different aspects of the lagoon and learned about the various living things and people who use and impact it.

The students will be creating four different signs to place around the upper and lower lagoon.

Sign A, led by experts Marc Schallenberg and Mary Thompson, will focus on defining what a lagoon is and exploring the geological history of Tomahawk Lagoon. The sign will also highlight the various bird species that inhabit the area.

Sign B will focus on the aquatic life of Tomahawk Lagoon, specifically highlighting the different species of fish, macroinvertebrates, and macrophytes (aquatic plants) that live there.

Sign C will focus on what the Lagoon looks like today and how people use and enjoy the area. This sign will support tourism and recreation within the lagoon.

Sign D will explore the relationship between people and the lagoon, focusing on its European history and the importance of community action. The content will be developed in collaboration with experts Trii Cadogen, Nicole Bezemer, and local residents.