Council Environmental Education Officer Susan Karels says 20 Northland schools are being funded for a range of diverse projects this year, the highest number since the awards began in 1996.
Mrs Karels says the annual awards aims to foster excellence in environmental education with schools eligible for up to $2000 each (plus GST) for their efforts to educate children “in, about and for” the region’s environment.
“This year’s 20 recipients will receive amounts between $293 (plus GST) and $1540 (plus GST) each for projects which once again were impressive in their scope and quality. Particularly pleasing is the increasing role that students themselves are playing in planning and designing these projects.”
Mrs Karels says eight of the winning schools are based in the Far North District, nine in Whangarei District and three from the Kaipara.
She says the awards aim to encourage these schools and their communities to actively participate in efforts to improve their environment in a sustainable manner.
Participants this year range from new entrants through to Year 13 (Form Seven) pupils along with teachers, principals, boards of trustees and wider school communities.
The winning schools and their GST-exclusive projects are:
Far North
Northland College
Project: Wai science – Lake Omapere
Funding: $1385
Contact: Marea Neill or Maria Thomas
This project examines how pollution impacts on natural resources.
Ohaeawai Primary School
Project: Sustainable recycling depot
Funding: $1000
Contact: Tanya Filia
This project aims to reduce and re-use school rubbish.
Opua Primary School
Project: Waste recycling
Funding: $999.60
Contact: Roger Young
This project aims to reduce school waste volumes and disposal costs.
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o te Tonga o Hokianga
Project: Kaitiakitanga o te Awa Tapu o Whirinaki
Funding: $900
Contact: Tarati Buckley
This project aims to care for the local Whirinaki River.
Te Kao Primary School
Project: Attracting native birds to our school
Funding: $738.22
Contact: Cheryl Carmichael
This project aims to plant native trees to draw native birds to their schoolgrounds.
Rawene Primary School
Project: Waste management
Funding: $707.02
Contact: Maria Barnes
This project is designed to reduce, re-use and recycle waste.
Oturu Primary School
Project: Environmental murals
Funding: $500
Contact: Fraser Smith
This project will see the entire school work together to create a series of large scale murals with cultural and environmental themes.
Riverview Primary School
Project: Green Team
Funding: $657.78
Contact: Trish Puharich or Ken Knight
This project will see young students undertake a variety of environmental projects around the school.
Whangarei
Hurupaki Primary School
Project: Wetland Wonderland
Funding: $1540.08
Contact: Julie Holt
This project will further develop the school’s wetland environmental programme.
Otaika Primary School
Project: Environmental development project
Funding: $1340
Contact: Adrienne Battersby
This project will see the school undertake a variety of environmental projects.
Maungakaramea Primary School
Project: Slash Trash programme
Funding: $999.60
Contact: Bill Garnett
This project aims to reduce the amount of rubbish the school sends to the local transfer station.
Tauraroa Area School
Project: Environmental enhancement
Funding: $728.87
Contact: Sarah Brinker
This project will involve a range of environmental projects across the school community.
Morningside Primary School
Project: Tribute to Tane
Funding: $627.50
Contact: Vicki Skudder
This project aims to develop an interactive native bush area.
Kamo Intermediate School
Project: Islands of Life and Plant-it-Forward Te Mauri
Funding: $513.80
Contact: Jan O’Connor
This project aims to continue development of the school’s long-running environmental programmes.
Whangarei Girls High School
Project: Bothering the Bugs
Funding: $502.81
Contact: Julie Hamilton
This project involves assessing stream water quality.
Onerahi Primary School
Project: Native bush area
Funding: $444.44
Contact: Isobel Arkwright
This project will continue work on a native bush area.
One Tree Point Primary School
Project: What a Waste!
Funding: $293.48
Contact: Adrian Smith
This project is designed to reduce, re-use and recycle waste.
Kaipara
Dargaville High School
Project: Freshwater project – monitoring, analysis and improvement
Funding: $1400
Contact: Paul Barnes
This project continues the school’s ongoing water quality monitoring programmes.
Otamatea High School
Project: Worm farming
Funding: $421.30
Contact: Liz Haines or Stella Clyde
This project will see worm farms developed to help reduce school waste.
Dargaville Intermediate School
Project: Native Bush Revamp
Funding: $373.33
Contact: Marcelle Comins
This project will see a native bush area revamped to care for native fauna.
MEDIA NOTE - photo opportunities:
Regional Councillors will be travelling to winning schools to present them with their awards during late July and August. To arrange photographs, or for more detailed information about the schools and their projects, please contact the award winners directly: