Tongariro School
Tongariro School joined our programme in 2024, thanks to funding from Waikato Regional Council that has allowed us to have a coordinator in Tūrangi. They have joined us to do a tour of the Kiwi incubation facility at Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary. They also learned all about weeds from us at the Water Expo at the Tongariro Trout Centre. Our Tūrangi kairuruku (Coordinator), Ariana, has been in to school regularly to teach the students about introduced predators and native biodiversity. They enjoyed making tracking tunnels with her to see what was lurking in their school grounds.
In Term 2 2024, we had our first school planting in Tūrangi when Ariana organised a planting event with Tongariro School for Matariki. The students planted about 40 plants to beautify the area in front of their wharenui. The tamariki loved it! They enjoyed learning about the native plants, why we need them, and how to plant them properly. They wrote wishes to Hiwa-i-te-Rangi (the wishing star) and planted them with their tree, then learnt about the tree that they had planted and why it is important for our ecosystem. They learnt that some trees provide food for birds, lizards, and invertebrates through nectar and berries. They also discovered that many of our native plants are host plants for unique insects, such as moths, weevils, and beetles. If we don’t have these native plants, the endemic invertebrates don’t have a home or food source!
In 2025, a new kāinga mokomoko (lizard habitat) went in at Tongariro School thanks to funding for plants from The Possum Run. In Term 1 the school caretaker told us that he wanted something done with the 'messy rock garden'. It was weedy, but we could see potential for a lizard habitat with all those rocks with little hidey holes. He commented that he had seen lizards there on sunny days, so a plan was born. The tamariki learned about mokomoko from our Kairuruku, Bronson. They learnt what mokomoko needed to survive, then planted lots of native grasses and tangly bushes with berries. Thanks to Taupō District Council they had a big pile of mulch to spread around the area too. Waikato Regional Council EIF funding allowed us to run the session in Te Reo Māori for the tamariki in the rumaki. It was a, fantastic day of learning and the area looks amazing with another 85 plants added! We love improving the environment for people and wildlife, while teaching about biodiversity through hands on mahi.
