Saving Wānanga by Kris Herbert is a narrative non-fiction text that weaves real-life events with storytelling to explore conservation, care, and responsibility through the rescue of a sick kea in Arthur’s Pass. Through clear sequence and character-focused moments, the text follows Laura and her team as they track down Wānanga, discover he has lead poisoning, and rush him to a wildlife hospital for treatment. Alongside the rescue story, students learn factual information about kea behaviour, the dangers of lead in the environment, and the work of wildlife experts who protect endangered species. The narrative blends tension, humour, and compassion, showing how teamwork and quick action can save an animal’s life and support the wider survival of a species. Engaging, informative, and hopeful, the text supports students to understand science and conservation through lived experience and voice.

The text is ideal for integrated learning across literacy and science, supporting inquiry into endangered animals, human impact on the environment, and caring for living things in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This pack contains a range of response activities complete with activity explainer videos for exploring thinking skills and developing emotional understandings and compassionate inquiry including:

• Blooms Higher Order Thinking activities
• Book Club guide for deepening text discussion
• A range of activities to explore emotional understanding, compassionate inquiry, empathy development, vocabulary and developing skills for self and co-regulation.

Curriculum Phase: Phase 2
Year Level: Year 4

English (NZC Levels 2–3): reading for meaning and enjoyment, identifying key ideas and events, understanding narrative structure, making connections between text and real life, exploring dialogue and character actions

Science – Living World: native animals and habitats, human impact on the environment, animal health and survival, conservation and protection, ecosystems

Social Sciences – Aotearoa New Zealand Histories: community action, caring for places and species, continuity and change, roles and responsibilities, local environments

Text type: Non-fiction, narrative recount, informational story, case study

Key words include: Arthur’s Pass, endangered species, kea, mountain parrot, wildlife rescue, vet, wildlife hospital, lead poisoning, pollution, toxins, conservation, protection, ecosystems, native birds, tracking, monitoring, banding, community action, teamwork, responsibility, kaitiakitanga, environment, sustainability, animal welfare, caring for nature, South Island, Southern Alps, science investigation, observation, problem-solving, hope, resilience