Enviro projects

Brain maze

The Brain maze was a student initiative in 2005. It was designed by Zelinda, Arzjah and Bonnie and is a side profile of a head. The design relates to students and nature both growing together, taking different paths, expanding/growing the brain and exploring the future. It is planted with 450 corokia and hebe native plants. Concrete pieces represent the face cells. Every student planted at least one tree to make the maze.

The Whakairo (carving) welcomes everyone into the maze. This was designed by students and tells the story of local karmatua, whanau, tamariki and our school.

'The maze is great because it is shaped like a brain so it is like we are learning while we’re playing'.

Leavers garden

A new ‘Koru’ memorabilia paver is made each year by our school leavers.

'I really enjoyed helping with carving the sign and a few of us helped build the bridge'

The Gully

The gully has natural, steep banks. Over the past four years, recycled tyres have been used as reinforcing walls, which also form steps and planters. A wooden stairway and slide assembly was built in 2003 to provide access to the bottom of the Gully.

Yearly plantings are carried out by new students to our school in the gully and other gardens. We only plant native species which are encouraging birds and bugs back.

'We like the gully because it’s a natural playground that helps us learn. We can get dirty, build huts and have lots of fun.'

'I like the gully because it teaches everyone about nature and its like an outside playground.'

'When I am older I can come back and see the tree I planted. I know where it is.'

Shade garden

A garden of trees, rocks and seats. 'This is perfect for having a relaxing time and to have shade in the summer from the sun.'

All the plantings carried out in our school are New Zealand native species. We are now experiencing a big increase in bird and insect life.

'The shade garden is a peaceful and quiet place to read or relax in.'

Fruit trees and berries

We have on-going plantings of trees to provide fruit to students.

We currently have: lemons, mandarins, apples, plum and grapes, and the berries we have include raspberries, boysenberries and thornless blackberries.

'We have planted a lot of new trees and vines and can't wait until we have yummy fruit from them.'

Recycling programmes

We recycle paper, card, plastic, aluminium cans, food scraps, and milk cartons.

'It makes me think about rubbish and how it effects our world e.g. picking up rubbish when it’s just lying around on the ground. We put our food scraps in the garden instead of the bin. I reuse plastic drink bottles.'

'I have a litter-less lunchbox. I put my paper in the recycling bin. I put my scraps in the compost. I go and pick up rubbish if I see it on the ground.' 'I put containers in my lunchbox.'

'I like planting the native trees we earn through the Paper4Trees Programme. They are getting big.'

Worm farm

Worms are mother nature’s miracle workers. We have a Hungry Bin type farm with tiger worms. These amazing creatures silently work away turning food and paper waste into ‘castings’ (great for the gardens) and worm tea (liquid fertilizer).