Enviroschools Aotearoa NZ

🌿 Learning, leading, and giving back to the environment. 🌿
Recently the James Hargest Senior Campus Enviro Leaders swapped the classroom for the outdoors, spending the afternoon teaching Year 9 students about the Waihopai native planting site.
Over the past several months, these dedicated Southland students have planned and prepared this workshop, sharing their knowledge, passion, and commitment to protecting our natural environment. From highlighting the importance of native biodiversity to exploring how restoration projects strengthen local ecosystems, they inspired the next generation to care for and connect with te taiao.
The day was a fantastic example of the Enviroschools Kaupapa in action. By empowering young people to lead, learn, and take meaningful action, the workshop reflected the Guiding Principles of Empowered Learners, Learning for Sustainability, Sustainable Communities, Respect for Diversity and Honouring Te Ao Māori.
These students demonstrated that when young people are supported to share their ideas and knowledge, they can create positive change for both people and the environment.
Ka rawe, James Hargest Senior Campus! 💚🌱

Environment Southland

👕✨ Old tees, new tricks! ✨👕
Students at Hāwea Flat School in Otago have given pre-loved T-shirts a major promotion to reusable shopping bags! 🛍️
As part of their Slow Fashion inquiry for Plastic Free July last month, these creative kids proved that yesterday’s outfit can tackle tomorrow’s plastic waste. 🧵🌱
Why we are cheering:
Landfill save: Giving old clothes a second life 🔄
Eco-warriors: Ditching single-use plastics one bag at a time 🌍
Skill building: Learning that small changes make a massive difference 🎨
Proof that sustainability looks good on everyone! 🎒💚

Ka rawe, Hāwea Flat School!

From seed collection and propagation to community planting days, habitat restoration, and riparian planting, tamariki across our Kaitiaki Kindergartens network have been caring for Papatūānuku.
Sometimes the most powerful projects grow into something much bigger than first imagined.....

Ngā Rākau o te Ngākau | Trees of the Heart From seed collection and propagation to community planting days, habitat restoration, and riparian planting, tamariki across our Kaitiaki Kindergartens network have been caring for Papatūānuku.

22-25 January, 2027

Hanging out for better politics?
Ōtaki Summer Camp is an annual event for young/ish people, from the newly politically curious to seasoned activists and organisers.
Come for four days of speakers, discussion groups, skills sessions, casual kōrero and live music. Walk the talk with a guided day trip to the ngahere, awa or moana, or stay home on the organic farm together. Bring a tent or share a marquee; our volunteers prepare kai for all and accessibility is a priority.
This is political community-building for people aged 17-35 or so who show up for each other, te taiao, Te Tiriti and more. First-timers welcomed, group discounts offered and supported tickets available. Nau mai haere mai.

Register interest now at www.otakisummercamp.com
Tickets on sale from 19th September.
$110 early bird (to 5 Dec.) / $140 full price (from 6 Dec.) / Groups of 5–10: $100 per person (to 6 Jan.) / $30 supported tickets available.
Email with questions! [email protected]

NZAEE Conference 2026

TĀTAIAO Environmental Education conference
5 - 7 October Tāmaki Makaurau

Registrations close 21 August, visit the website for more information and to register today.
www.nzaee.org.nz/conference-information/2026

Tamariki from Mararoa School in Murihiku | Southland took part in a powerful hands-on learning experience during term 2 focused on the health of their local awa, the mighty Mararoa River.

With support from Environment Southland educators, students explored the interconnectedness of people, place and waterways through an Enviroschools lens of Learning for Sustainability.

Before heading to the river, students investigated the impact humans can have on freshwater ecosystems. They learned about the growing issue of microplastics in our environment and discovered practical actions we can take to care for our waterways — including planting natives, protecting wetlands, and preventing the spread of didymo by cleaning footwear between waterways.

At the awa, tamariki became scientists and environmental stewards, measuring water clarity, temperature and river health, while examining macroinvertebrates as indicators of a thriving ecosystem. Through experiential learning, students deepened their understanding of how the Mararoa River flows from the Livingstone Mountains, joins the Waiau River, and eventually reaches Te Waewae Bay near Tuatapere.💚🌱
Environment Southland

Over the past year, kura, iwi, environmental organisations and community partners across Tāmaki Makaurau have come together through a shared vision: connecting more ākonga from Kōhanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori to their local Tūpuna Maunga while strengthening biodiversity and nurturing the next generation of kaitiaki.

Highlights included:

​** the inaugural Te Tauwhaiwhai-a-Tāwhaki, the first bilingual Sustainability Adventure Race of its kind in Aotearoa, designed specifically for Māori-medium and bilingual schools

** native tree planting days at different maunga sites

** contributing to the Tūpuna Maunga Authority restoration project at Matukutūruru

Through environmental action, ākonga have been reconnecting with whenua, whakapapa and the stories held within these ancestral landscapes. Across all events, 258 students, 34 teachers and 18 partner organisation staff took part in learning and environmental action, planting over 2,500 native trees and demonstrating the strength that comes from working collectively towards a shared vision.

This project was supported by Toimata Foundation made possible through their partnership with Ministry for the Environment.💚🌱

Across the Tūpuna Maunga (ancestral mountains) of Tāmaki Makaurau, a powerful story of environmental restoration, cultural connection, environmental stewardship and learning has been unfolding. Click the link below to read this wonderful story about connecting ākonga from Kōhanga Reo and Kura Kaupapa Māori to their local Tūpuna Maunga.....🌿🌿💚💚💚

Reconnecting Rangatahi with their Tūpuna Maunga Across Tāmaki Makaurau something special has been growing. Kura, iwi, environmental organisations & community partners have come together with a shared vision: connecting to their local Tūpuna Maunga

Amazing conference coming up this October. Check out all the details below, registrations are now open.

Don't miss this opportunity to hear from Dan Hikuroa and more than 30 concurrent sessions at our national conference in October.

Enviroschools Aotearoa NZ Sustainable Schools Auckland Aotearoa Social Studies Educators' Network Education Outdoors New Zealand Garden to Table Science Learning Hub
Kids Greening Taupo Moths and Butterflies of NZ Trust
https://www.nzaee.org.nz/conference-information/2026