Council supports schools to champion local wildlife
Selwyn District Council media release: 19th August 2025
Concern for the treatment of tuna longfin eels has inspired school students to design and install an informative new sign at Lincoln’s Liffey Springs Reserve.
Eleven environment student leaders from Springston School and 11 from Ararira Springs School worked with the Selwyn District Council and Enviroschools to research, design, and install the sign on the bank of the Ararira L II River.
The dual-sided display features information from Springston students on the eels’ life cycle, growth, and diet on one side. On the other side there is information on the river from the Ararira students.
Council biodiversity staff and Enviroschools guided the learning, while the Council’s design team brought the students’ plans to life. The project was Council-funded.
Council Senior Biodiversity Specialist Denise Ford said she was thrilled by the students’ eagerness to protect the tuna.
“It’s great to see students taking action to celebrate our waterways and protect the special wildlife in their local area. This has been a fantastic collaboration between Council, the schools, and Enviroschools,” she said.
Former Springston student Shylo Hobbs, now 14 and at Lincoln High School, said the idea came after hearing of eels being mistreated at the popular reserve.
“We wanted to protect the eels and thought the best way was to teach people about them. Now it’s cool to see the sign in real life.”
Enviroschools Waitaha Canterbury advisor Matt Stanford praised the students’ leadership.
“They love the tuna and the awa and wanted people to value them too. This was absolutely student-led, with strong support from Council to make it happen,” he said.
The sign was unveiled on 7th August, more than 18 months after the idea was first conceived.