A creek runs behind Nikita Faifua’s house, flowing straight to the Riwaka-Kaiteriteri estuary on its way out to sea. This direct connection to the ocean has given the Riwaka School pupil a front-row seat to where plastic ends up when carelessly discarded.
Nikita recently took part in a school snorkelling experience at Cable Bay with marine educators Tasman Bay Guardians, as part of their Experiencing Marine Reserves programme.
The 12-year-old was later chosen for the annual Poor Knight’s competition trip, winning the Art for the Moana award for her confronting sculpture about plastic pollution.
Her artwork began with a banana box, which she painted and adorned with paper feathers and a clay head and beak. She then filled the box with plastic collected from the beach, to “show the impacts of what plastics in the ocean are doing to the birds”, she explains.
Her vision and message impressed the judges, who selected her from a national pool of entrants for the four-day experience last month.
The annual trip gives students from across the country the opportunity to visit Matapouri in Northland, including a snorkelling excursion to the world-renowned Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve.
Nikita says she loved seeing all of the different types of fish, including a long line of blue maomao and a “Nemo fish” (no Dory though, she adds).
She was “really excited” to have been chosen and says the experience has given her a deeper appreciation for sea life.
Nikita was housed with Nelson Intermediate School student Emma Miller, also 12, who won the action project category for her letter to Nelson mayor Nick Smith, urging him to push parliament for more marine reserves.
The annual Poor Knights trip, now in its 24th year, offers rangatahi (youth) the opportunity to explore the reserve, snorkel with marine experts, and share their mahi (work) with sponsors and peers from around the country. Sport Tasman is the main sponsor for the local Experiencing Marine Reserves programmes.
The Poor Knights trip, which ran this year from 22–25 May 2025, included a full-day marine adventure with Dive! Tutukaka, marine biodiversity exploration, coastal walks, and a celebration evening where students presented their projects.
A representative from Tasman Bay Guardians and Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust says they are proud to see these two passionate young kaitiaki (guardians) representing the region on the national stage.
