empowered students Archives - Enviroschools Marlborough

October 13, 2026

Canvastown School – Native Planting & Web of Life Learning

Planting day Canvastown School took powerful action for te taiao this term, planting 140 native trees and grasses — including mānuka, toetoe, carex, karamū, and harakeke — along the bank that leads to their bottom field. This area borders a stream that flows directly into their local awa, Te Hoiere. The planting was designed to stabilise the soil and reduce erosion, improving water quality downstream. Ready for planting Before and after planting, tamariki explored the Enviroschools “Web of Life” activity, learning about the interconnectedness of all living things. Through this, they discovered how their planting supports the birds, insects, soil life, and water — and even contributes to...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

October 13, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Linkwater School – Bee Awareness, Seed Bombs & A Senior Trapline Project

This term, Linkwater School has been buzzing with purposeful environmental action. As part of Bee Awareness Month, the Juniors welcomed Sarah Huntley into their classroom to explore the vital role bees play in pollination and ecosystem health. Tamariki learned how bees support the food systems we rely on. Why protecting them matters, and how small actions can make a big difference. To put their learning into action, the Juniors made flower seed bombs — a fun, hands‑on way to create future food sources for pollinators. The excitement was contagious, with students proudly shaping, rolling, and planning where their seed bombs would be scattered to help bees thrive around their kura and community. Meanwhile, a passionate...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

September 25, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Waitaria Bay School – Everyday Kaitiakitanga & Solar Learning in the Sounds

Waitaria Bay School welcomed Angela and Sarah in Term 3 for a full day of sharing, exploring, and celebrating the incredible environmental mahi they carry out as part of everyday school life. The visit offered a rare glimpse into the depth of their ongoing projects. Including the independence of their tamariki as active kaitiaki of their remote Marlborough Sounds environment. Every term, the students from Waitaria Bay School travel to Manaroa Head to complete Litter Intelligence monitoring, contributing valuable data to the nationwide Sustainable Coastlines database. Their commitment to this long‑term citizen science project shows a strong understanding of how local action supports national environmental knowledge. Back at school, the tamariki proudly showed us their...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

September 23, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

Pokapoka Visit

As an extension on their learning about Energy, tamariki from Mayfield Kindergarten took a trip to visit a local historical site - Pokapoka, Seventeen Valley At Mayfield Kindergarten, tamariki had been learning about the energy from Ruaumoko when Wairau began sharing the story passed to her from her papa about the tsumani that washed across our shores many years ago. To empower Wairau with her korero, kaiako Natasha organised a trip to Pokapoka. Wairau’s papa, Keelan Walker, also came and together they shared the history of the site. Tamariki from Mayfield Kindergarten, staff and management from the Marlborough Kindergarten Association and our Environmental Education team had the pleasure of listening and learning about the...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

September 9, 2026

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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

June 22, 2026

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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

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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

March 31, 2026

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Nature Exploration on the Taylor River

Connecting with nature helps to make us smarter, healthier and happier, this is the purpose for Blenheim’s new nature exploration space. Located on the Taylor River beneath a stand of large trees is Blenheim’s new Nature Exploration Space. The ideal spot with the surrounding environment offering an extension to the dedicated space for running, climbing and exploring. The project started last year with the Council's Environmental Education team and support from Parks and Open Spaces officer Kiri Whiteman. It began with a consultation process with young tamariki in Blenheim. They were asked what they would like to see, do, feel, hear in the new space. Tamariki were encouraged to discuss, draw and even create a...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

March 13, 2026

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Sea Week at Whatamango Bay – QCC Rangatahi in Action

A group of 20 Year 7 and 8 rangatahi led by Di Huntly from Queen Charlotte College celebrated Sea Week the best way possible by getting wet, muddy, and hands-on with tuangi/cockle monitoring at Whatamango Bay. The beautiful rimurimu meadow of Whatamango Bay The day was a special collaboration with Glenis Paul from the NZ Marine Studies Centre, Kiara Duke-Love from Te Ātiawa, and the college, bringing together science, mātauranga Māori, and local knowledge in one learning experience. The morning began with Matua Neville Tahuaroa-Watson, who opened the day with a karakia and the laying of a treasured pou. This set the intentions for the mahi ahead and asked for the protection...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

December 9, 2025

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MGC at Grovetown Lagoon

Discovering the Living Systems of Grovetown Lagoon Year 10 ākonga from the Mountains to Sea course at Marlborough Girls’ College spent the day exploring the amazing ecosystems of Grovetown Lagoon - a place they’d already been learning about in class. Split into three groups, each team started with a different adventure rotating around each activity. Group one joined local birder Phil Bradfield on a walk around the lagoon, learning to identify the many manu that make this wetland home and discovering how species like whitebait form an important part of the food chain. Group two rolled up their sleeves with Justine Johnson, helping to release young native trees from the weeds around them. Their mahi will give...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

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