Apii’anga ite tanu kaoa ki te pae’ia Richard Story (tau’nga no teia rare) pera katoa te aronga rare ate Akitua Aitutaki Private Island Lagoon Resort tei akaatinga no teia rare. Kua akamata’ia atu teia rare ite marama o  Noema mataiti 2024, e toru auvau kaoa tei oti atu ia ratou ite akatupu, kia tupu akaieie  i mua ake ka akaneke’ia atu ki te pae akau. I taua ra, kua tamou mai maua  akapeea te takainga ote akatupu’anga, akono’anga kaoa.
Kua akamata atu matou ite akatau akapeea ite amani i tetai ngai tuku’anga kaoa (plug). Ko teia au ngai tuku’anga kaoa (plug) kua akanoo’ia atu ratou ei opara ite kaoa kia kore ratou e nekeneke e kia tupu akaieie. Kua akari e kua akamarama mai a Richard akapeea ite kairo’anga ite pakau akapipiri (glue) no te taporoporo’anga ite tuanga ote moana, kia mou te au kaoa ki runga i to ratou ngai akatupu’anga. Kia tano te kairo’anga ote pakau akapiripiri (glue), kia ketaketa no te mou ite kaoa kia kore e takinokino’ia.
Te auvau kaoa, kua apii matou ite tama, akatupu ete tairiiri ite repo o runga ite kaoa, kia noo akaieie ua te kaoa kia iti ia mai ete marama.Ko teia tetai ngai mataora rava atu, kua akatupu atu matou i tetai au kaoa ou ki runga i tetai kaoa atupaka. Kia akatau’ia atu te reira e, me ka tupu rae ratou ki runga.
Te kite karape ete maama o Richard ete aronga rare o te Akitua, kua riro te reira ei akamaroiroi ete tauturu ite tuanga taporoporo. Ko tetai ra teia, kare te  reira e ngaro note tuanga ote mekameka ete akaieie ote tai.
Learning coral planting with Richard Story from Aitutaki Conservation Trust and Ken & Mati – coral caretakers for Aitutaki Private Island Lagoon Resort, was an inspiring experience for NES officers. Their coral restoration project began in November 2024 and now includes three coral tables where young corals are grown, with plans to eventually transplant them out into the lagoon to encourage marine life.
We learned each step, making coral plugs, mixing marine-safe glue, cleaning the corals, and planting fragments onto larger coral heads. We also learned how coral are very sensitive and while they grow in harsh conditions, gentle hands and brushing are important.  We also had Mack from Araura TV take some footage to be shared to help raise awareness of the importance of coral propagation.  Richard and the team’s knowledge and passion made it an unforgettable conservation experience. Â
Anyone wanting to start coral gardening must complete an Environmental Significance Declaration (ESD) with NES to help protect the reef and ensure best practices are followed.
