Enviroschools Aotearoa NZ

26/09/2026

Over the last eight months, Woodlands School students have been on a remarkable Enviroschools journey, transforming a fallen tree with deep sentimental value into a legacy for their school community. After months of planning, consultation, learning, collaboration, and action, the completed seat now sits proudly within the Woodlands School grounds.

Over the last eight months, Woodlands School students have been on a remarkable Enviroschools journey, transforming a fallen tree with deep sentimental value into a legacy for their school community.

21/09/2026

How does wind generate electricity? Is wind energy sustainable? And what does ‘sustainability’ really mean?

These were some of the curious questions students from The Sustainable School were asked about wind at the Ōtepoti Enviroschools Year 7-10 Student Hui at Dunedin Gasworks Museum recently. And they came up with creative answers:

“Wind energy is better because it’s cleaner than oil and gas.”

“...but it can also be dangerous for birds.”

Someone shared that a neighbour’s wind turbine has caused chaos because of the noise it’s making.

That’s the beauty of learning, as there’s no absolute answer!

It was fun to get hands-on by making their own wind catcher (an anemometer) and test it outdoors!

17/09/2026

Te Matau a Māui Enviroschools Facilitator Helen has been working with
Waimārama School to explore their coastal environments.

At Waimārama beach they started with a beach clean-up and learning about the dune ecosystem, including talking about our endemic pīngao which is under threat from invasive marram grass. This learning embraced the concept of tūrangawaewae, a sense of place and
interconnectedness with te taiao.

They also explored the rocky shore in Ahuriri | Napier and identified the unique marine life living there. Finally they visited the National Aquarium of New Zealand and Jay from Napier Port led them on a fantastic tour of the kororā sanctuary.

The students now have a kororā nesting box to paint. Thanks Jay!

This local learning is so valuable to connect students to a sense of place, to learn about biodiversity, and the action we can all take to protect our taonga species.

14/09/2026

Edgewater College’s Envirogroup has a bike workshop!!

Edgewater College students learned bike mechanics at Bike Hub Pakuranga, repairing eight bikes for fellow students and sparking a new school programme.

09/09/2026

Owhango School Kaitiaki Crew identified litter pick-ups as an act of service in their community they'd like to commit to. So they are now doing a regular litter pick up around the village, in their lunch breaks.

In addition, they have been brainstorming ways to improve their school waste management. They traveled to the Taumarunui Reuse Center and worked with Emily from Ruapehu District Council and Rochelle from Enviroschools to classify waste and to learn how it is disposed of at the transfer station. They engaged in a range of waste-based information sessions, observations and challenges. And they all left with reusable items to upcycle for their developing sensory and biodiversity garden back at kura, diverting 24.9kg from landfill.💚🌱

What a cool little crew of environmentalists!

08/09/2026

Nine South Waikato Enviroschools recently gathered at Lake Moananui Reserve for an Enviroschools Connecting to Nature Day. The event brought young people together to learn about the environment, explore the area, and participate in hands-on conservation work.
The day featured a wide variety of workshops and activities, including:
Bird surveying alongside Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari
Kōura (freshwater crayfish) monitoring led by Raukawa
Planting 800 native trees in partnership with the South Waikato District Council
Interactive sessions with the Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust
Activities hosted by Hodderville Farms
Catchment exploration to learn about local waterways
Nature connection activities guided by Waikato Enviroschools
The event successfully inspired local students to connect with, learn about, and actively protect their natural environment.
Mihi nui to Cr Sandra Wallace, South Waikato District Council for providing the photos and story.💚🌱

03/09/2026

🎨 Bittern | Matuku hūrepo Art Competition 2026

📅 Entries close: Thursday 17 September

Inviting students to create an artwork inspired by the Australasian Bittern | Matuku hūrepo. It can be a drawing, painting, collage, sculpture, meme, or any other creative interpretation of this remarkable bird.
All details on poster below.
The Forest Bridge Trust

02/09/2026

Wairarapa College’s environmental group EnAction ran a clothing swap recently to help reduce clothing waste in the school community. Many students got involved with donating and finding some cool new pieces. It was a great turn out and everyone enjoyed the fun and interactive way to engage in sustainability.
A clothing swap helps to raise awareness around fast fashion while making clothing affordable and having a bit of fun. Other secondary schools throughout Aotearoa have also held pop up ball shops or have ball lending libraries, which are also fantastic sustainability initiatives👚🌱💚

02/09/2026

World Environmental Health Day 2026 Competition!

This competition is open to all NZ Primary, Intermediate and Secondary students to help acknowledge and learn about World Environmental Health Day.
2026 Theme ‘Environmental Health: Standing with Science to Protect Communities’.

All the details in the poster below, entries close 5pm Friday 25 September 2026.
New Zealand Institute of Environmental Health - NZIEH

01/09/2026

In Term 2 of 2026, Whakatū and Te Tai o Aorere were fortunate enough to host a visit from Harko Brown to provide a kaiako workshop about hauora/wellbeing and whanaungatanga/connection through tākaro, or traditional Māori games. Everyone enjoyed the day and took their learnings back to their schools and centres.