Kaurihohore School joins fast growing Kaipara Moana restoration efforts

Kaurihohore is the latest Northland school to benefit from native plants provided by Kaipara Moana Remediation and KMR’s partnership with Enviroschools and Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust.

And embracing the environmental kaupapa has given students a boost in their learning.

Almost 300 KMR-sponsored native plants were planted on the Kaurihohore School boundary – alongside a neighbouring sheep/beef farm – in late August.

Forest Floor Nursery in Maungatapere kindly donated extra ‘special’ species, including tītoki, mānatu & tūrepo, which will provide long-lived habitat and shade for generations to come.

Vikki Tuckey, the Enviro class teacher at Kaurihohore School, says students were keen planters and did a fantastic job of giving their new native rākau the best possible start.

“Over the past few years, Kaurihohore School has made planting and environmental restoration a key focus. We were introduced to KMR through Enviroschools which we are really grateful for,” says Vikki.

“Students are actively involved in developing and planting the school’s outdoor spaces, embracing their role as kaitiaki. By helping to create and care for these areas, they develop a strong sense of ownership and responsibility, making them more likely to look after and protect the spaces they have helped to create.

“Teachers and whānau enjoy seeing students build new skills, grow their knowledge of the natural world, and gain confidence through hands-on learning experiences. The planting projects also create peaceful, inviting outdoor spaces where students can connect with nature, play, learn, and reflect,” she says.

KMR is supporting seven other schools with native plants in 2026 – Waioneke, Kaihu, Pouto, Aranga and Arapohue Schools, Ruāwai College and Ruāwai Primary. A further 15 schools worked with KMR between 2023 and 2025.

David McDermott, KMR Planting and Nursery Lead, says key to the success of the school collaboration is the partnership with Enviroschools and Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust.

“What is so valuable about these collaborative projects is that the plants KMR provides become part of a much wider learning experience for local tamariki and rangatahi,” says David.

“Through annual planting projects, students get hands-on experience. Catchment remediation is inherently intergenerational. Some of the trees these students’ plant will still be growing and protecting waterways many decades from now.

“By involving tamariki and rangatahi in that process, we’re investing not only in healthier land and water but in the next generation of people who will understand, value and care for our precious landscapes.”

Northland Regional Council Enviroschools Facilitator Zoe Jefferies says the Enviroschools kaupapa empowers our students to take meaningful action in their environment.

“This project was a great example of that. I loved seeing their excited faces. Working together, planting natives and exploring creatures really helps to bring their learning to life,” says Zoe.

“These hands-on experiences build curiosity, connection, and a sense of kaitiakitanga. They also show students that even small actions can have a large, positive impact on the environment.”

Vikki says Kaurihohore School looks forward to collaborating with KMR on future planting projects.

“I encourage other schools to get involved with KMR through Enviroschools, because there are so many benefits that planting projects can bring to a school community,” she says.

“Beyond creating beautiful outdoor spaces, planting provides students with valuable hands-on learning opportunities, helping them develop new skills and a deeper understanding of environmental stewardship. It encourages outdoor learning and gives students a sense of pride and ownership as they contribute to projects that make a lasting difference to their school,” says Vikki.

Kaurihohore School is committed to creating welcoming spaces that students, staff and whānau can enjoy for years to come.

“Over the past two years, The Environment Group – a team of students from my Enviro class who are passionate about the environment – have been involved in a range of environmental initiatives across the school, with planting projects playing an important role in their work.

“The students are always excited to get the plants in the ground, care for them as they grow, and see how they can transform areas into lovely spaces to be enjoyed. They are learning new skills, gaining a greater appreciation for the environment and taking pride in caring for a space they have helped create and grow.”