Daylighting Streams by Gemma Bowker-Wright is an informative non-fiction text that weaves environmental science with community action to explore how buried urban waterways can be restored to help cities respond to flooding and climate change. Through clear explanation, real-world case studies, and visual diagrams, the text examines why many of Auckland’s streams were piped underground and the environmental problems this has caused over time. The narrative introduces the concept of “daylighting” — uncovering streams so they can flow naturally again — and shows how this approach improves water quality, restores habitats, and creates green spaces for people. By focusing on projects such as Te Ara Awataha in Northcote, the text highlights the partnership between mana whenua, scientists, engineers, councils, and local communities in reconnecting with waterways and protecting the future of urban environments. Informative, hopeful, and highly relevant, the text supports students to understand sustainability, innovation, and environmental responsibility through real-life examples and voice.

The text is ideal for integrated learning across literacy, science, social sciences, and technology, supporting inquiry into climate change, urban planning, environmental restoration, and community-led solutions 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 3
Year Level: Year 6

English (NZC Levels 4–5): reading for meaning and critical thinking, analysing author purpose and explanatory language, synthesising information from text and visuals, exploring cause and effect, building technical and environmental vocabulary

Science – Living World: ecosystems and habitats, human impact on the environment, water quality, adaptation and survival, environmental sustainability

Social Sciences – Aotearoa New Zealand Histories: community action, continuity and change, identity and belonging, mana whenua connections to waterways, collective responsibility

Technology: green engineering, design solutions, problem-solving, innovation, sustainable systems

Text type: Non-fiction, informational text, explanatory report, case study

Key words include: Aotearoa New Zealand histories, Auckland, Tāmaki Makaurau, Awataha Stream, Te Ara Awataha, waterways, streams, stormwater, flooding, climate change, daylighting, green engineering, sustainability, restoration, habitats, ecosystems, biodiversity, water quality, urban planning, urbanisation, greenways, community action, mana whenua, iwi partnership, kaitiakitanga, environmental stewardship, design and innovation, resilience, future cities, environmental justice, nature-based solutions