A solar powered weather observation system, pīngao grass for coastal dune restoration and an aquabot to restore polluted water are some of the innovative projects awarded a share of $50,000 of funding from Woolworths’ 2024 Growing for Good grants.
Schools from across New Zealand applied for the sixth year of grants hoping to turn their keen green environmental ideas into a reality.
The judges were deeply impressed by the many unique and ambitious ideas received in the sixth year of the grants. Eleven schools have been successful in securing grants with winners including Papatoetoe Intermediate’s cultural medicinal garden, St Peter Chanel’s Mangapōuri stream restoration, and Turitea School’s micro forest planting project.
These were accompanied by some technologically apt projects like Waitara Central School’s outdoor learning centre with night cameras and Green Bay High School’s computer repair programme for those in need.
Teacher Bridget McLaughlin from Te Totara School in Hamilton says that “the act of growing vegetables allows our students to connect with nature. Our children won’t care and protect our environment if they aren’t connected to it and our garden space hopes to encourage this connection in a fun and inviting way.”
She further adds that “when surveyed, many of our children don’t know where vegetables come from. Hardly any children had ever eaten anything they had grown which can be attributed to most whanau living on small sections with no gardens. By giving the students the opportunity and skills to garden, we hope to give excess kai to whanau and encourage the community to become involved.”
Woolworths New Zealand’s Head of Sustainability, Catherine Langabeer says that “caring for our planet is a collective effort as it’s the only home we have. Woolworths is committed to playing our part – such as through a 63% reduction of our carbon emissions by 2030 and eliminating food waste from our stores to landfill by 2025. I am inspired by the vision and innovation of these projects and we look forward to seeing their contribution to growing a greener Aotearoa for future generations.”
The full list of 2024 Growing For Good winners are:
Ruawai Primary School (Northland)
Their project focuses on planting pīngao (a native sand-binding sedge) for coastal dune restoration. This enhances students’ understanding of local ecosystems, biodiversity, conservation, and the cultural significance of pīngao. Community volunteers, environmental experts, and iwi will be involved in monitoring the growth and health of the pīngao.
Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hokianga (Northland)
Their project surrounds the installation of a solar powered weather observation system. This will power equipment and create a database to track weather patterns aligning to the days in the Maramataka (Māori lunar calendar). The guide will teach students the best days for planting and harvesting food with information access for the wider Hokianga community.
Papatoetoe Intermediate (Auckland)
Their project centres around the growing of Māori and Polynesian vegan island food and medicinal planting. It connects food and culture while promoting sustainable practices, and healthier dietary choices. Planting will be guided by the lunar cycle with workshops for the wider community too.
Glenfield Primary School (Auckland)
Their school looks to establish mara whenua (vegetable garden), wildflower meadow, and pā harakeke (flax plants) projects. Vegetables will be grown in a greenhouse with tanks to harvest rainwater and repurposed tyres as containers. The composting of plant by-products will nurture a worm farm. The meadow increases the biodiversity of pollinators while pā harakeke teaches weaving and traditional medicine. The school looks forward to collaborating with the nearby Kaipātiki Project.
Green Bay High School (Auckland)
Their recycle a device project inspires computing students to repurpose decommissioned company laptops so they can have a second life. The repaired devices will go to students and communities in need.
Te Totara Primary School (Waikato)
Their vegetable garden project aims to foster nutritious eating habits with a hot composting system turning scraps to soil. Students will be given recipes incorporating vegetables in their lunchboxes reducing processed and packaged meals. The school will work with local daycare Learning Links and retirement village Summerset to share food waste, balance their compost system and collaborate on their planting mission.
Te Kura o Te Paroa (Bay of Plenty)
Their project involves monitoring and restoring polluted waterways with technology. The kura (school) will build an aquabot to safely retrieve water samples for testing. A noho marae (overnight marae stay) will allow students to align science with their purakau (stories) and whakataukī (proverbs) to create a sense of connection to the modern world.
Waitara Central School (Taranaki)
Their project endeavours to transform the native forest to an outdoor learning centre equipped with night cameras, pathways, observation decks, and interactive learning stations. Students will learn about the biodiversity of flora and fauna alongside habitat loss and conservation. Learnings will be embedded in the curriculum with workshops and educational programmes.
Turitea School (Manawatū-Whanganui)
Their micro forest project includes the planting of 800 native trees. Students will learn about forest maintenance, pest control and wildlife ecosystems. Local community planting days will aid in promoting wider environmental awareness.
St Peter Chanel Catholic School (Wellington)
Their project centres around restoring the mauri (life force) of the Mangapōuri stream following an 1850 earthquake and land developments that damaged the stream bed. Part of the stream passes through the kura (school) and the project involves a rubbish clean-up and planting. Community working bees will teach students about the ecology of the stream.
Climate Action Campus (Canterbury)
Their project will create a rainwater collection system using gutters on a shed roof for the boulder copper butterfly and skink. Rainwater leaves out the chlorine and chemicals found in tap water. The Campus provides free classes to over 30 schools and students will be able to learn about the life cycle of these special endangered critters.
