In the heart of the Kaipara District, Maungaturoto School students are hard at work on an ambitious project to transform a previously neglected section of land into a thriving native environment.   
  
Led by tamariki and kaiako, with support from Northland Regional Council (NRC) staff and the local community, the school has big plans for the previously inaccessible and overrun weedy, steep gully behind the school field.   

  So far, the school has received support from Mangawhai Natives who donated a mixture of pōhutukawa, pūriri, karo, pohuehue, hoheria and taupata bushes. 

They also received plants and trees from community members, Kauri Park Nurseries, Mangawhai Bunnings and Kaipara Moana Remediation.  
  
As a result, tamariki have been busy planting, with some help from their Enviroschool neighbour, Kaipara Kids Early Learning Centre.  

Katie Schubel, Maungaturoto School’s Enviroschools key teacher, said the children are passionate about the project.   

“They spend their lunchtime down in the gully, pulling out convolvulus plants.” 

  “It’s great for them to have support from experts like NRC’s Biosecurity Officer Steve Henderson. He’s assisting with pest trapping in the gully, ensuring local wildlife are protected from invasive species.”

  “They’ve also worked with Whitebait Connection to learn about water quality and planted in the stream alongside Fonterra,” Katie said.  

  Biosecurity Specialist - Pest Plant Partnerships Sara Brill has also been helping students with pest plant identification, teaching them to recognise and preserve native flora and providing advice on methods to supress and eradicate pest plants.  

   In addition to the gully project, the school has established a swap station for eco-friendly liquid detergent and a soft plastics recycling station.  
  
They also have six very well looked-after chickens living in an impressive area, complete with a jungle gym, garden, swing, and sandpit.  

Envirochools Facilitator Jane Norman says this comprehensive approach to sustainability at Maungaturoto School is having a positive impact on the tamariki, the environment around them and of course, their very happy hens.  

  “Our tamariki are the ones who are going to teach the next generations about sustainability and looking after our environment. It’s inspiring,” Jane said.   

  While the steep gully is a big focus of the school’s current environmental efforts, the project ties into a broader vision for several other kaupapa, including designing a bridge to then improve access to the school paddock beyond the gully.   

  While it’s not in the budget now, the hope is that one day it will be possible.  

  Another key project is the expansion of their garden-to-table system using new raised garden beds.   

 Maungaturoto School were one of the winning recipients of NRC’s Environmental Leaders Fund this year and will use the putea (money) to help with producing vegetables for their 2025 Garden to Table programme and school lunches.  

  The school looks forward to creating a native rongoā (Māori healing system) garden, a memorial garden to honour a past, much-loved Teacher’s Aide and member of the school community and organising more collaborative community working bees.