Environmental Action in Education Award

What started as a t-shirt design competition for the tamariki (children) of the Waiau catchment to increase awareness about the unique regulatory circumstances impacting the Waiau River, quickly grew into something much more.

Tamariki from the two local schools, Hauroko Valley Primary and Waiau Area School, as well as tamariki from the wider community have been supported by the Waiau Rivercare Group to share the story of their river, taking it as far as the Environment Select Committee in Wellington. The project had the group present on behalf of the community’s petition to save the Waiau River and remove the hydro exemption from the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020.

For the tamariki involved in the project, it is simple – they want to be able to swim and fish in the river. “If we make a difference now, the next generation will come along and make a difference too.” To the judges, it was clear Te Mana o te Wai was at the core of the Waiau Rivercare Group’s Children’s Kaitiaki Project and the tamariki are taking ownership of the work they are doing to fight for their river. “Right from the start it was very evident about the culture of the schools with the focus on learning and educating them about their river.”