General Archives - Enviroschools Marlborough

September 9, 2026

From Envirogroup Event to Whole-School Action!

It’s always exciting to see learning turn into action! After taking part in Enviroschools student events over the past couple of years exploring themes including World Environment Day, renewable energy and, most recently, our amazing biodiversity. The Envirogroup at St Mary's School decided it was time to share some of their learning with the rest of their school. The team came up with the idea of organising their own whole-school environmental morning. This involved everyone taking part in two hands-on activities in their house groups. Activities ranged from upcycling old T-shirts into shopping bags, making bird feeders, to building solar ovens and getting active with a water relay.

: Helping biodiversity by making tasty treats for manu hanging up to dry

: Tamariki learning about renewable energy and making solar ovens.

Of course, organising activities...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

September 8, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Diving Beneath the Surface

Term 3 kicked off with an amazing virtual reality learning experience for 180 Year 7 and 8 tamariki. Glenis started with a karakia to set the intensions for the session. Glenis Paul from the NZ Marine Studies Centre led six sessions that took students on a virtual dive beneath the waves. They explored some of Aotearoa’s unique marine habitats and the creatures that call them home. St Mary's students - It feels so real you just want to reach out and touch what is in front of you. There were plenty of “oohs” and “aahs” as the headsets went on and tamariki and accompanying teachers suddenly found themselves...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

September 2, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Manu Weaving

A number of kaiako from ECE through to secondary school took part in a hands on Nga Taonga Takaro workshop with Harko Brown at the end of term 2. During this workshop kaiako had the opportunity to learn about and experience a variety of traditional māori games - one of these included the use of a woven manu (bird). Unfortunately there wasn’t enough time to learn to weave this manu on the evening but this create an opportunity for a follow up workshop. So early in term 3, Ramona organised for a group of kaiako to get back together to do exactly that. Ramona and a couple of other teachers had had the opportunity...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 28, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Enviro Leaders Celebrate Biodiversity on World Environment Day

World Environment Day provided the perfect opportunity for Enviro Leaders to come together and learn fun educational activities to take back to their own schools and share with others. Tamariki from Fairhall, Grovetown, Springlands, St Mary's and Redwoodtown Schools spent the afternoon taking part in four hands-on activities. The activities were designed to help them understand why biodiversity matters and how they can help protect it in their own school grounds and communities. Angela introducing the pests Pest Dectectives At Pest Detectives, they investigated some of New Zealand's introduced predators and learned about the impacts on our native wildlife. Thanks to the team at Picton Dawn Chorus, students were able to get up...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 28, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Exploring Energy at MKA

Tamariki and kaiako from across the Marlborough Kindergarten Association have been learning all about Energy. Here are a few examples of what they have been up to. Mayfield Kindergarten

: The plates are moving it makes a volcano and earthquakes – Wairau

: Rūaumoko is in his māmā’s puku, he is happy. He gets angry he kicks his māmā’s puku and it makes a big earthquake – Wairau

: This is a tsunami, when the plates move and crack under the water – Wairau

At Mayfield Kindergarten they have explored energy through a te ao Māori lens and learnt about Ruaumoko, the atua of earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis. Tamariki discovered that when Ruaumoko moves beneath Papatūānuku, the earth can shake, rumble and change. This supported them to hold both mātauranga Māori and scientific understandings alongside each other as they made sense of the natural world.

: Making a volcano

: Creating a tsunami

Tamariki have been creating volcanoes, which sparked conversations about why they erupt. This led to learning about tectonic plates and how...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 24, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Outdoor Classroom Day

Outdoor Classroom Day is celebrated internationally twice a year on the 21st May and the 5th November. It is a global movement to set aside dedicated time to get children outdoors. Below we hear from Springlands Kindergarten and Little Acorns Acamdemy about their time spent outdoors. Springlands Kindergarten We spent the morning at McKendry Park. We invited Springlands school to join us, so Cathee and Courtney brought a small group over. Tamariki could do their usual exploring, tree climbing etc, however we also took two mats to set up water paints, pens/pencils on. We used also had paper with double sided tape that they could collect things on. These were then later put all together...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 22, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Connecting with Ngahere Through Matariki at Rapaura School

In the lead up to Matariki, Angela and Ramona visited each class at Rapaura School to explore their ngahere through the whetū Tupuārangi. Identifying the importance of the ngahere Tupuārangi is the star associated with trees, birds, fruits, and all that grows above ground within the domain of Tāne Mahuta. Together, they reflected on why healthy ngahere are important not only for nature, but also for people. They discovered the many benefits forests provide for our community and wildlife. A highlight of the sessions was heading into the school ngahere to get to know the trees that grow there. Tamariki interviewed a leaf, taking a close look at its shape, size, texture,...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 22, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Planting for Future Generations at Thomsons Ford Road

On a beautiful sunny July day, students from Wairau Valley, Springlands, and Rapaura Schools joined the team from Trees for Marlborough for a native tree planting event at Thomsons Ford Road. Organised by Junior Landcare, Wairau Nature Network, and Enviroschools to celebrate Arbor Day. The day was an opportunity for students to make a meaningful contribution to the future of Marlborough's unique environment. Trees ready for planting The planting site is more than just a restoration project. It is also a demonstration site for low-flammability green breaks. With Marlborough's hot, dry summers and strong winds increasing the risk of wildfires, projects like this help landowners and restoration groups make informed decisions...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

The final product - a finished pest tracking tunnel

June 22, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Becoming Pest Detectives at St Mary’s School

How have New Zealand birds adapted to their environment, and how can we help protect them for the future? Taxidermy wild life kindly lent to us by Picton Dawn Chorus That was the big inquiry question Year 7 and 8 students at St Mary's School explored with Angela with a focus on native birds and introduced predators and pests. Using real-life examples, hands-on activities, and a little detective work, tamariki discovered why many of our native manu need our help. One of the highlights of the session was meeting a collection of taxidermy animals. Students had the rare opportunity to meet introduced predators including a rat, stoat, ferret, weasel, and a cat....

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 22, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Ngā Taonga Tākaro with Harko Brown

On a chilly winters evening Springlands School hall was a hub of energy. With almost 40 teachers from ECE through to secondary school attending a nga taonga tākaro workshop with Harko Brown. Harko Brown is known for his expertise in traditional Māori games. Intro from Ramona This workshop was apart of our Environmental Educations team focus for 2026 on Programmes. It had teachers up and moving about, shaking off the winter chill. However, the workshop was more than just physical activity. It was woven together with pūrākau, te reo Māori, tikanga, and connection to the environment. To get everyone energised and socialised, the workshop started with a round of matamatarongo. This game...

by Enviroschools Marlborough