Education

Project Tinaku has been working closely with local primary schools to fund and coordinate planting days, as well as supporting Ellesmere College students into agricultural and environmental careers through a partnership with the school’s Gateway Programme.

Throughout 2021 and 2022, the Tinaku Project have teamed up with Te Ara Kākāriki to deliver Kid’s Discovery Plantout (KDP) days for two local primary schools. The KDP programme was established by Te Ara Kākāriki to allow children to connect with nature, learn about native biodiversity and make a positive difference in their local environment.

The planting days were hugely popular with students and teachers alike. Feedback from the planting days was overwhelmingly positive, with students enjoying not only the planting, but also learning about insect and bird habitats, identifying native plants through interactive scavenger hunts, and trying their hand at harakeke weaving.

The Tinaku project continue to support the partnerships with Te Ara Kākāriki and local primary schools.

Additionally, Tinaku has partnered with Ellesmere College’s Gateways Programme to support senior students into their chosen agricultural and environmental career paths. Tinaku sponsored six students in 2021, and have increased our sponsorship to cover ten students in 2022, as we see the clear benefits of the programme.

Upon completion of the Gateways Programme, students have gained valuable skills and qualifications and have greater confidence for achieving their career goals.