10/11/2025
It’s been just over two years since we closed — a closing that carried deep loss, not only for me, but for all of us who tended that space. It took time, and a full cycle of seasons, to honour the grief. Yet, as the land began to green again, something unexpected began to grow.
Last year, I was approached to lead Phases 3–5 of Nationwide research, led by Wayne Francis Charitable Trust, into One Day Bush Schools.
I had the absolute privilege of travelling the motu - seeing other Bush Schools in action, talking with other Bush founders, Kaiako, Principals, hapū, and whānau — and everywhere, I saw the same findings what so many of us have long known and felt: that when children are grounded in nature, relationships, and real-world learning, they flourish.
We know your time is precious — so instead of asking you to read four complete 30 page reports, we’ve pulled the key learnings together into two practical publications with the support of Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
🌱The Highlights Report gives a clear snapshot of what’s been learned across all four phases — the patterns and the stories, across Aotearoa.
🌱The How-to-Guide is the hands-on version — it takes those findings and turns them into real, usable steps to build a partnership with your local school.
These resources were made with you in mind — for the Kaiako, whānau, principals, and community leaders who have been living this kaupapa from the ground up.
If this mahi resonates, we’d love for you to help it keep growing — to share it within your networks, and continue being the mycorrhizal network.
To find the How To Guide and Summary of the 4 phases of research, please visit https://www.wfct.org.nz/unconventional-spaces-of-learning
