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Environmental Action in Education

Find out more about the winner of the award, Uruti School, and the highly commended, Stratford Primary School and Tree Machine.

Winner

Uruti School

For empowering tamariki to take action to protect and restore the environment

Uruti School has been instrumental in providing environmental learning opportunities for its tamariki including predator trapping, planting trees, caring for the Uruti awa, investigating freshwater quality and implementing sustainable practices in the day-to-day operations of the school. The kura works alongside Ngāti Mutunga in a Curious Minds project looking at koura in the local river and is a Silver Enviroschool. The judges commended the school for its comprehensive approach to environmental education and empowering students through hands-on experiences. Teacher Diane Scott says: “Uruti is just a small rural school with eight students and the Enviroschool thing is just what we do, it’s not an add-on, it’s everyday practice.”

Highly commended

Stratford Primary School, with special mention to Marlene Lewis

For empowering tamariki to take action to protect and restore the environment

Stratford Primary School’s extensive programme is teaching tamariki about the environment and sustainability with youngsters learning about the importance of all living things. The judges commended the Green Gold Enviroschool’s scale of projects and long-term commitment and special recognition was given to enviro lead Marlene Lewis, for motivating students to take part in environmental action. Marlene says: “To receive the award of highly commended has meant a lot to us. It’s given us a focus, it’s given us a direction and it’s really helped us believe in ourselves and to continue with our journey."

Tree Machine

For empowering tamariki to take action to protect and restore the environment

Tree Machine’s training programme provides rangatahi with the knowledge, practical skills and qualifications needed for work in conservation, forestry, land management, arboriculture and related fields. Key to its success is collaborating with a huge range of other conservation groups, educators, hapū, marae, councils and the Department of Conservation. Judges praised the company’s multifaceted approach to environmental education and community engagement. Tree Machine managing director Dave Hare says: “For us it’s about putting our rangatahi on the right path. If we can make a change to their lives then everybody is a winner.”