Education

The Enviroschools Programme is a long-term, whole-school programme, where schools create their own unique pathway to sustainability.  Schools signed up to the Programme have the support of a facilitator, a network of other schools and a set of resources pulling together ideas that have worked for schools over the 10 years that the programme has been operating.

Find out more on the Wellington region's Enviroschools page.

Take action for water

Is a resource educating young people about the importance of the environment. It aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills to make informed environmental decisions in daily life. Take action for water resource >

Love every drop

Is a resource helping students understand where their tap water comes from and to make informed decisions about using it. Love every drop resource >

The stream health assessment kits provide a simple and practical resource for teachers wanting to engage students in learning about the importance of water quality, ecological systems and scientific approaches.

The kit is designed to be used in the field by teachers and students undertaking practical aspects of stream health assessment. It includes all the equipment and materials needed to undertake basic stream health assessment. Assessment involves investigating the water quality, physical features of a site and the plants and animals living in and alongside the stream.

Request a stream assessment kit

 To request a kit contact streamkits@gw.govt.nz with the:

• School name and location
• Contact name and details
• Dates you would like the kit.

Download the lending agreement (PDF 257 KB)

Resources

• An Educator's Guide to Stream Health Assessment (PDF 1.6 MB)

• Stream Health Assessment Worksheet (English) (PDF 337 KB)

• Stream Health Assessment Worksheet (Te Reo) (PDF 343 KB)

• Algae identification card (PDF 543 KB)

• Critter identification card (PDF 221 KB)

Online education resources

These are some online resources that provide information about stream health and assessment:

• Take Action for Water is an environmental education resource for teachers to help primary and intermediate school students (years 5-8) investigate and explore their local freshwater environment.
• The Whitebait Connection is an education programme developed by a non-profit community conservation group. It encourages New Zealanders to understand and be involved in the health of our local streams, rivers, lakes and wetlands.
• NIWA has developed identification guides on freshwater plants, algae, fish and invertebrates. 
• The Department of Conservation has information on aquatic invertebrates, freshwater fish and more.
• Landcare Research has a freshwater invertebrate identification guide.
• Te Ara/The Encyclopaedia of New Zealand has a lot of information on freshwater habitats and what biodiversity might be found in them.
• Land Air Water Aotearoa is a web portal where scientific data about the environment is shared. It has a lot of useful information on the state of freshwater and freshwater monitoring around the Wellington region.

To help with your stream assessment field trip, you might like to download a map of the area you will be visiting. We have a number of these available for various parts of the Wellington region.

Hutt Valley:

Kāpiti:

Porirua:

Wairarapa:

Wellington:

This grant support schools explore and take action in their local environment. It can be used by schools taking part in field trips as part of:

• Mountains to Sea Wellington education programmes
• Using Stream health assessment or Marine Metres Squared kits
• Sustainable Coastlines
• Conservation Volunteers New Zealand
• Pedal Ready Guided Rides
• Other trips to allow your students to explore or take action in their local environment

There is a maximum of $500 per year available for up to 90 students towards transport costs of:

• Two buses or train trips
• Guided bike ride to field trips

If your school is interested, take a look at the Student Transport Grant Application form:

Student Transport Grant application

Fill out this form and email to biodiversity@gw.govt.nz. Read more here

date_range Published 07 Feb 2023

Download now (PDF 218 KB) get_app

This fund supports schools and early childhood centres to carry out projects that support native plants and wildlife. It will help students to do projects like: planting, cleaning up litter and pest animal control. There is up to $500 a year available for each project.

Download the  Student Action Project Fund application form (PDF 589 KB) and email it to biodiversity@gw.govt.nz.

Every March thousands of primary school students celebrate walking, biking and scooting to school through our Māehe Manawa Ora - Movin'March programme.

Active travel to school helps increase independence, physical and mental health, decision making and road safety skills of our tamariki - and the school benefits from less chaos at the school gate.

There are free resources for schools, students and parents for active travel in March and all year round.

Find out more about Movin'March

Pedal Ready is a free programme to teach students cycle skills. Their instructors teach cycle skills compliant with the New Zealand Transport Agency Cycle Skills Guidelines.

Find out more about Pedal Ready

The Active Travel Action curriculum resource has been developed by Greater Wellington Regional Council and Enviroschools - Te Upoko o te Ika a Maui.

The resource provides a process for schools to implement sustainable active travel practices in their school through student inquiry - and an opportunity for students to take action in response to climate change.

Find out more about Active Travel Action

Bikes in Schools is a programme to allow students equal access to bikes and tracks in the school setting so everyone can experience the benefits of cycling. 

Find out more about Bikes in Schools