The first anniversary of the death of school principal and Bay of Plenty Regional Councillor Hawea Vercoe is marked with a ceremony on Lake Rotoiti.

Children paddle a waka with the wetland memorial in tow.

Hawea was killed in an incident in Whakatane on November 22 last year.

A father of six, he was principal of Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Rotoiti and was in his first term as Okurei Maori constituency member for the Bay of Plenty Regional Council when he died.

The memorial began with a powhiri at Hawea's school, followed by the unveiling and blessing of the memorial garden. Two past pupils spoke in Te Reo about the influence he had had on them during their days at the Kura.

The floating wetland – a construction which provides habitat for wildlife and assists with filtering pollution from waterways was launched from Lake Rotoiti and children paddling waka towing it to its anchor site.

Hawea Vercoe.

Acting Principal of Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Rotoiti Tammy Gardiner said one of Hawea's aspirations was to initiate a floating wetland for Lake Rotoiti.

'He was extremely passionate about the health of the lake. With the help of Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Te Arawa Lakes Trust, Kauri Park Nurseries Ltd and others, Mr Vercoe's dream had been realised,” says Ms Gardiner.

Staff and children of Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Rotoiti built the remembrance garden, called Te Mara Manawanui, which was unveiled and blessed. Mr Vercoe's family and pupils from three schools from around Lake Rotoiti –Te Wharekura o Rongomai, Rotoma School and Te Kura o Whangamarino – took part in the remembrance day.

She says the day was a tribute to the man who had contributed so much to the Kura and community.

An educational resource unit for teachers was also being written about the floating wetland project.