Waipahihi School: Focus on the Environment Inside the Classroom and Out

Written By Kim Manunui

Waipahihi School is one of the two primary schools currently involved in this project.

Before joining Kids Greening Taupo, the school primarily focused on dealing with rubbish and recycling. They sent away food waste to people to feed chickens and pigs. The school has had a worm farm for two years. However, this past summer a lot of dangerous trees were cut down, leaving a huge big space. This was not all though—all the native birds had disappeared along with them.

To bring the bird life back, Waipahihi have been greening their school by planting trees. In an event sponsored by BNZ, the school cut back just 8 trees and replaced them with 500! Every kid planted their own plant and the school all got together to improve the environment.

This focus on the environment has reached the classrooms as well. The staff are trying to teach the students about the links between a healthy environment and people. Andrew, a Year 6, said that he has been learning about the environment in class and found it interesting. They have watched Internet videos to learn about native trees and climate, which they then wrote about. Some students have also read Maori legends and made artwork based on them.

Each class is involved with their own projects, called He Manu Whenua. Some classes have been making pathways, or Te Aranoa. Others have been propagating plants, tracking pests or making sculptures.

This year, the school entered a competition called "Treemendous" in which schools send the judges a short video on what they are working on. They placed ninth in the competition, so, as part of the top ten, they have to extend their video. If they place in the top four then they will receive a grant of $50,000!

On the launch day, their tent will be holding a "prints and poos" station, where visitors must match up paw-prints and poos to the animal that made them.

Keep up the good work Waipahihi!

—Jack McNeill

Kim Manunui

Hi, I’m Kim and I work with a great team to help individuals, as well as small and not so small businesses get their message, product and services to the world using digital media and creating wonderful websites that don’t cost the earth.

I was born in Canada, and grew up around Vancouver and the mountains of British Columbia. My love of pristine environments led me to New Zealand and eventually to the mountains, lakes and rivers of the central North Island which is home. My family’s heritage is here, and it’s from here that Korio traverses the planet.

The digital world is never static and neither are we.

And I say ‘we’ because I work with an awesome group of talented people who I gather together as required to complete a project.  Whatever your business, not-for-profit or individual needs are we gather the best team to get the job done.

Collaboratively we are creative, share sustainable values and work hard for great outcomes because that’s the buzz of satisfaction that drives us.

If you have an audience and market to reach, we can make that happen. Creative design, words that work and smart behind the scenes stuff that cuts through the online noise. We’ll design your website and then build it. We’ll manage the content as well as all your hosting needs. We can handle your online advertising so you get noticed,
and we’ll manage your social media presence so you get the clicks, likes and engagement to grow your business. All within the budget you set, because none of this needs to cost the earth.  And the job doesn’t stop when your website goes live. We are your virtual business partner.

https://www.korio.co.nz
Previous

Taupo Primary: Excited to Be on the Pilot Schools for Kids Greening Taupo
Next

The Official Kids Greening Taupo Launch