WOW Mummy
……..and there we have it, the biggest motivation I could ever need.
Recently we took our wee whānau off to Kelly Tarltons for some real life experience. Having a vague memory of an octopus and some sharks previously I was all for it, I needed to replace this small memory I have with the WOW I knew was there. All whānau trips should have a Nanni and ours was no different. Alana’s Nannie Whaea Huhana and our cousin Roisin from Ireland were in the mix of WOW’s of the day too.
Off we trudged doing our environmental best via boat and bus to Ōrākei. We arrived with the sun blazing and ten minutes to check out the view. Heading into Kelly Tarltons I was hit with flashbacks of dizziness from the snow tunnel. Forging on as I am a mother now we approached, I paced through the snow tunnel and Alana just looked with wonder - HUH she yells!
Then WOW…. it hits us - over thirty inquisitive, swimming, diving and playing penguins on display in a huge window. MANU, MANU she yells. I go to correct her but then actually they are manu in her eyes so manu they are. Manu moana, I add just to give some direction. I am immediately impressed. Such a positive start we all get excited for what is to come and boy do we get proven right. Just around the corner I'd guess at over 80 - now MANU MOANA - slipping, sliding, eating and generally saying hello to the little people. Especially our Alana. I guess size matters and these guys were attracted to our preciousness.
Onwards we trudged with awe and excitement as we turned each corner. We easily navigated the underground caves of marine environments. A hub of creation and WOW moments at each turn. Coming upon the creative section we were given the opportunity to color in a turtle or whai via interactive pads and have our creations spring to real life on the interactive moana scene. This was a positive approach to technology and how it can create environments of interaction. I may have had more fun than Alana on this one but I'm so sure she was proud of me and supported my color choices. This was followed by two rounds on the shark and ray moving tunnel to which Alana enjoyed laying horizontal in Dadda’s arms while she stared up and tried to take in all the movement.
I am a scuba diver and just quietly in my imagination I was staring at a shark as it approached me underwater and I did my best not to freak out and see them for the beauty that they are. Breathe, breathe…..we all took what we needed from this interaction and then out the other side brought us to the koura. Here is where my brain went into overdrive. Being part of the WMP steering group as we navigate our way through the 4th Koura dive survey and this year participating myself with four dives. Alana and I approached the koura and here was my heart. My little daughter cracks a pukana at the koura with a huge WOW mama, mama, mama WOOOWWWW….. The biggest motivation I could need for the mahi we do in a nutshell.
These were huge koura too, the biggest I have seen happily nestled in their safe habitat. I could get a feel of what it might be like to see a few of these tucked into our inner reefs and a bigger feel for how vulnerable they are. My mind flicks to the future of Alana and I snorkeling and discovering a few of these beauties. I immediately know the value of our mahi and that I can’t wait to do more so she will be able to have this experience in her future.
Flick forward to today and here I am starting my new role with the WMP as the regenerative dive coordinator - kaihāpai rukuruku. My motivation is simple. Get our divers, free divers and snorkelers in the moana - get them experiencing, get them feeling, get them energized for what the future holds, harnessing their inner eco-warriors to support, help and hold the rākau of support for our mahi for without eyes we are blind. If we can’t see it, we can't help it. Our regen teams are training and experiencing so when needed they can be called upon to help others to see and know what our moana holds. Preparing them to participate in surveys and marine monitoring events, ocean cleaning and kelp gardening; creating moments for them to connect to their moana. Being the motivation and organization they need to get the job done whilst hoping they one day surface with a WOW…… of their own to pass onto the next generation.
From the mum of our sweet Alana I want this for her, I want it for us and I want it for everyone else who wants it. Firstly it has to be there and that requires heart - mahi, determination, coordination and support. That's me…. Now off to do the mahi for my girls future!
Tessa O’Shea
Mum to Alana Jackie Aihe O’Shea - Future moana explorer
Regenerative dive co-ordinator - Kaihāpai rukuruku
Waiheke Marine Project - Steering Group
Waiheke native since way back