Wai Care
Wai Care is a community-based water quality monitoring and action programme. It brings schools, community groups, businesses and councils together to regularly monitor the water quality of local streams and then take action to restore their health.
With the help of a dedicated coordinator, Wai Care groups are trained to assess habitat and water quality, and to develop an understanding of stream dynamics. There is a strong link between water quality and land management, so groups also learn about the many sources of pollution and how they can be reduced.
If you would like to find out more about how to set up a Wai Care group or arrange a Wai Care talk or field-trip please contact our Environmental Education Coordinator.
For more information about Wai Care groups that are active in the district and links to related websites, please visit www.waicare.org.nz.
Wastewise Schools
WasteWise Schools is an Education for Sustainability programme that assists schools to reduce their waste and in turn, their ecological footprint. The programme engages students in best waste reduction practices that they can transfer into their home and everyday life. It supports students to make informed decisions and educate others to act sustainably. The programme can be integrated into all aspects of the New Zealand curriculum and adapts a whole school approach that is designed to compliment the Enviroschools programme.
Enviroschools
Enviroschools takes a holistic approach to environmental education, whereby students develop skills, understanding, knowledge and confidence through planning, designing and creating a sustainable school. Rodney District has 7 schools participating in the Enviroschools programme:
- Leigh School
- Pakiri School
- Silverdale School
- Tapora Primary
- Tauhoa School
- Mahurangi College
- Warkworth Primary
To find out more about the Enviroschools programme visit the Enviroschools website or contact the Regional Coordinator at the ARC: Hilary.chidlow@arc.govt.nz 09 366 2000.
Trees For Survival
The Trees for Survival programme is run by the TFS Charitable Trust and is a hands-on environmental education experience promoting growing and planting of native trees and shrubs to:
- help control soil erosion
- safeguard water quality
- provide new habitats for native birds as well as other plants and animals
- beautify our environment
- remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
- renew a natural resource
The TFS programme is designed to involve children who learn about trees and their place in our environment. These plantings provide ‘at risk’ land with plant cover, restores eroded land to improve stream and water quality as well as providing habitats for the spread of our native flora and fauna. The programme also creates community partnerships by engaging not only schools and landowners but service clubs, regional and local councils, business sponsors and volunteers who all work together to protect our environmental heritage.
Rodney has 6 schools participating in the Trees for Survival programme:
- Kaipara Flats School
- Mahurangi College
- Matakana School
- Orewa College
- Pakiri School
- Tapora Primary
To find out more about the Trees for Survival programme visit www.tfsnz.org.nz or contact the Regional Coordinator at the ARC: sue.crawshay@arc.co.nz or phone 09 366 2000.
For more information about any of these programmes, please contact the Environment Education Coordinator.