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Environmental Action in Education

This award recognises environmentally-focused projects in education. Judges are looking for projects/action that engage students in environmental learning and empower them to make a difference. This award is specific to schools, kura kaupapa Māori, early childhood centres or tertiary institutions. Whole schools/learning centres, groups or individuals are eligible for this award.

Sponsored by Fonterra

Heddon Bush School students are kaitiaki of an area of remnant ancient floodplain forest known as ‘The Donut' which includes matai, ribbonwood and kōwhai trees and a range of threatened and at-risk plant species.

Students have been restoring and looking after this QEII covenanted space located near their school for the past 10 years. The school’s ultimate goal is to restore it back to its original condition.

Engaging in the Enviroschools programme is at the heart of the school’s environmental work.

Students conduct workshops to increase their knowledge on the threatened species while also developing pest traps and planting programmes.

A seed nursery has also been set upon the school grounds by the students.

Tamariki share information and engage with the local community, while also reaching out to local rūnanga.

True in Nature is a bush school programme which aims to get children and families connecting with nature.

Set up by trained teachers, husband and wife team Gareth and Katie Oliver, the school caters for seven to twelve-year-olds in a one-day per week programme which allows tamariki to learn in bush surroundings.

The organisation also offers a holiday programmes for families with five to sixteen-year-old children, which has attracted as many as 120 tamariki.

Since having their own children, the Olivers say they have changed their perspective on learning and education, which led to the establishment of True In Nature.

In their own words, the school focuses on making informed choices outside, managing risks, and the students testing their capability, physical strength and power.

One particular impact the Olivers have observed has been the change in children who have had challenges in the traditional schooling environment connecting differently in the bush setting.

Created and performed by Anna van Riel, the Waste Free Wanda interactive musical show empowers children to make a positive environmental change, in areas such as water care, the reduction of single-use items and awareness around the protection of native species.

Using theatre, song, actions and te reo māori, Anna’s shows are highly interactive, with tamariki singing and dancing as they take in important environmental principles.

An early-childhood variation of the show has also been developed encouraging 'simple swaps' around single-use items and how we can care for our waterways, native species and planet.

With the support of WasteNet, the show has been delivered to Southland schools and early learning centres since 2020 and has reached over 10,000 tamariki.

A relationship with SIT has resulted in NZonAir funding for a paid animation internship for students who created a music video.
The Wanda Foundation environmental arts trust has also been created as a result of the show.

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