Waipahihi School - He Manu Whenua
When Kids Greening Taupō (KGT) was formed in 2015, Waipahihi Primary School was one of the organisation’s first pilot projects. The school’s aim was to find opportunities for outdoor education and leadership in their local environment. After the removal of several large macrocarpa trees from the Waipahihi Primary School grounds, teachers realised they now had the perfect place to create a native tree garden right on the school grounds. Waipahihi Primary decided to use a whole-of-school approach for the project, naming it ‘He Manu Whenua’ (Bird Land).
Around 60 students from across the school became part of the Waipahihi Kakariki steering group, collecting ideas from their classes to help create a plan for the garden. The plan incorporated a range of concepts, including art sculptures, propagation sheds, a pump track for bikes, and a new pathway. Each classroom chose a different aspect of the plan to focus on, creating detailed designs for the various elements.
The school then approached funders, parents, and local businesses to help bring their vision to life. In September 2015 the school held a planting day, planting over 500 native trees in their new He Manu Whenua garden. The programme has now become part of everyday learning at Waipahihi School. Each term a whakatau is held to welcome new students and their whānau to the school. New students are given the opportunity to plant a tree in the grounds, and learn about the whenua (land). A representative from Kids Greening Taupō regularly runs sessions with the students to keep the learning journey alive.
In 2022, a new garden was designed by tamariki who wanted plants that could be used for hauora (health and wellbeing). This garden was funded by Contact Energy , with plants funded by First Credit Union and The Possum trail run. New students to the school were welcomed with a powhiri and then they were all helped by the Kids Greening Taupō student leaders to plant the Māra Hauora (wellness garden). A wēta hub and puriri moth area were also created as the beginning of a bug garden planned for 2023. This area will link the original He Manu Whenua planting with the Māra Hauora and bring everything together.
In 2022, KGT student leaders took Project Tongariro employees and a Bay Trust representative on a tour of He Mānu Whenua. They couldn’t believe how much the trees had grown!
“Before they became part of Kids Greening Taupō, Waipahihi School’s environmental education was focused on recycling and reducing food waste. Now they teach a much broader range of environmental topics, including how our own wellbeing is connected directly with health of the environment. There is so much learning that can be found outside the four walls of a classroom” Thea Depetris, one of the founding members of Kids Greening Taupō.
“We couldn’t have achieved this project without the support of our wider school community who helped to source materials, build our new pathway, and plant trees. Our caretaker Mike was also a big part of the project’s success, his building and gardening skills were top notch!” Jen Maloney Deputy Principal at Waipahihi Primary School.
