Kaitiaki Archives - Enviroschools Marlborough

March 13, 2026

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

March 11, 2026

Enviroschools stories General

KEGs at Seymour Kindergarten

Moisture testing Every Thursday morning Joy-Marie visits Seymour Kindergarten to facilitate the KEGs (Kids Edible Garden) programme. Joy facilitates a planned programme based around the garden as well as supports tamariki interests. Over the last few weeks she has been discussing 'water as energy for plants'. How water is essential for plants to grow and move nutrients throughout the plant. Each week tamariki have been testing the soil to see if it is too dry or too wet. They have discussions about what the soil feels like and if the plants need water. Last week tamariki made 'Nettle tea' by soaking stinging nettle in water for the week. When Joy-Marie brought it out tamariki...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

September 4, 2025

Enviroschools stories General

Rapaura’s Gifford Room – Turning Climate Learning into Climate Action

The Year 7 and 8 ākonga in Gifford Room at Rapaura School were among the first to take part in the Climate Change Learning Programme Angela has been facilitating in Term 2 and 3. They recently welcomed her back for the final step, bringing together everything they had learned to create an action that will share their climate knowledge with others, raise awareness of climate change and kaitiakitanga and make a positive difference at school. Actions to take now and into the future During the programme, they had explored the value of different perspectives, showing manaakitanga for other people’s views, and working together with nature to find solutions. They also recognised that...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

November 8, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Montessori Keep New Zealand Beautiful

Keep New Zealand Beautiful is a nationwide not-for-profit organisation that encourages communities to engage in activities promoting environmental stewardship. It focuses on reducing waste, recycling, planting trees, and beautifying local areas. The initiative helps foster a sense of pride in New Zealand’s natural environment and encourages everyone, especially young tamariki, to participate in actions that create a more sustainable future. Through hands-on projects, children can learn the importance of environmental care, laying the foundation for them to become kaitiaki (guardians) of the land. During Keep New Zealand Beautiful Clean Up week, the tamariki at Montessori explored ways to care for Papatūānuku by making their very own beeswax wraps. The tamariki were fascinated as the...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

September 13, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Knowledge of Tānemahuta grows at Springlands School

If you haven’t been to Mckendry Park in Spring, it is something that you must do. Golden and white Daffodils dot the park, whilst spring blossom gently falls to the ground from the breeze of Tāwhirimātea, as if snow is falling. The students of Springlands school got to experience this magic as part of their learning about Tānemahuta. This term Ramona and Angela from our Environmental Education Team worked alongside Springlands School to put together a plan to learn about Tānemahuta and his presence within their school and surrounding areas. Tānemahuta is the guardian of all the forests and all the birds and plants that live there.

The plan that was put...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 26, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Montessori tamariki connect to nature

At Montessori Blenheim, children live and breathe the guiding principle, Kaitiakitanga - Guardianship. Children see themselves as active global citizens who are responsible for their actions. They engage in sustainable practices and show aroha for Papatūānuku. This means the children are finding ways to connect with the local community, step into their role as a kaitiaki and recognise themselves as part of the natural world. As they build their sense of belonging and connect with their natural environment, they are learning to show respect for Tāne Māhuta and the Mauri of his ngāhere. "Just enough people to give it a cuddle" - Cameron Last month, a group of little Montessori explorers embarked on...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 21, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Wetland Warriors

Every Wednesday morning a volunteer team calling themselves the Wetland Warriors meet at Grovetown Lagoon to plant natives, weed, clear paths, raise plants and trap pests to protect the beautiful environment around the Lagoon. This term on partnership with Junior Landcare, Envirogroup’s have the opportunity to work alongside the Wetland Warriors (WW) volunteers while learning about the wetlands and why its restoration is so important. Unfortunately the first session was called off due to wet weather, and so in the first week of June Tua Marina and Waikawa Bay Schools became the first groups of students to join the WW team. Their job for the morning was to plant grasses and trees on the banks of...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

June 9, 2024

Enviroschools stories General

Tuarua – giving back – at Waikawa Bay School

The students at Waikawa Bay School have been learning about the values of Matariki with a focus on tuarua - giving back. Free Fair at Waikawa Bay School The first three weeks of term 2 students explored what it means to help and support others. They explored ways that appreciation can be shown and developed an understanding of how in working together as a community everyone is valued. Ideas came flooding in as to how the school could say thank you to the people and local community groups that had given time, shared their knowledge and expertise, donated sports and classroom equipment, and funding for projects. The ideas were sorted and grouped together...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

August 9, 2023

Enviroschools stories General

Renwick Kindergarten Pause and Reflect

A key aspect to the Enviroschools journey is reflection. “Reflection is an integral part of the learning cycle, helping us to make sense of our experiences, deepen our learning, and gain direction for the journey ahead”. Renwick Kindergarten have been a Green Gold Enviroschols since 2019. Earlier this year they decided to reflect on their journey. They had completed all their “next steps” from their Green Gold reflection and felt it was time to identify some new ones. Renwick Kindergarten tamariki, John Leggett and Anne Best test out the new water access at Rousehill Reserve As their team reflected on the last four years it quickly became apparent the Enviroschools kauapapa is no...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

October 6, 2022

Enviroschools stories

Renwick Kindergarten Enviroschools journey with Rousehill Reserve

When we started out on our Enviroschool journey in 2013, it started out with wanting tamariki | children and whānau | families to have a sense of belonging here at Renwick Kindergarten. We never envisioned what we would learn, create and change along the way. Our decision to weave the Enviroschools guiding principles into the fabric of our Kindergarten saw us gain Bronze in June 2014; Silver in December 2016 and GreenGold in February 2019. Bringing in water to water the trees Identifying the current situation: As part of our mission towards Silver, our practice and thinking evolved. From promoting sustainability within our own Kindergarten, our eyes looked towards the horizon to...

by Enviroschools Marlborough

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