Heavenlee Ngatai (Ngāti Haua, mokopuna of Sid Ngatai) pictured here with kaimahi Bart Jansma (Environmental Policy Advisor) and David Riley (Todd Energy), is a year 12 student at Opunake High School and has a special interest in science. Earlier this week, she spent an afternoon accompanying Bart on a site visit to gain insight into the world of science and engineering.
“I was amazed at how they are trying to construct a bridge in a way that has less impact on the environment. The bridge has a sediment filtering system which includes rocks placed under the bridge. If the water overflows and washes the bank away these rocks then form a new bank.
David talked about a concrete nib that Bart had designed that stops effluent or paru from vehicles using the bridge from going into the river. I was surprised to learn the bridge constructed from huge concrete slabs had been transported across Mount Messenger.
It was a really interesting afternoon and has given me a clearer understanding of the types of science that I want to pursue in the future. Thank you to Bart Jansma for giving me this opportunity and to David Riley and Peter Bryant.”
Ngā mihi.