Bronze enviro award for Kaiwaka School

JULIA WADE

28 Mar, 2022

Digging in the dirt and growing a green thumb has resulted in local student eco-warriors being rewarded with a nationally sought-after environmental prize.

Kaiwaka School are now proud owners of an Enviroschool Bronze Certificate, presented to the students on February 25, by Northland Enviroschools coordinator Susan Karels, Northland Regional councillor Rick Stolwerk and Kaiwaka School’s Enviroschools facilitator Jane Norman.

Lead teacher for the eco-project, Nik Massey, says the hard-working Kaitiaki group led this journey which began in 2021 following a survey of the student body, staff and the community.

“Kaiwaka school is attempting to alter its surroundings and improve the school environment to reflect the ideas and vision which were expressed in the survey,” he says. “We have a school garden which we will be expanding to promote sustainability and a tree planting project up and running, involving 2000 revegetation plants including manuka, cabbage trees, grasses, flax and karamu.”

Enviroschools is a nationwide initiative where a range of education facilities including early childhood centres can commit to a long-term sustainability journey. The programme provides an opportunity for children to connect to and explore their environment, and plan, design and take action in their local places usually in partnership with their communities.

Kaiwaka students have also been working on paper recycling, trapping pests, planting fruit trees and helping out in Kaiwaka’s community gardens Massey says.

“Produce from the school gardens go towards our ‘Garden to table program’ to teach students about food tech and soon we’ll have some chickens, so it’s all happening… watch this green space.”

Kaiwaka School eco-warriors were excited to receive an Enviroschool Bronze Certificate after their hard work in the school’s gardens. Adults, from left, Northland Regional councillor Rick Stolwerk, Enviroschools facilitator Jane Norman, Kaiwaka School principal Sharlene Tornquist and teacher Nik Massey. PHOTO/SUPPLIED