We are proud to work alongside tauira of all ages from various schools in our community.
Encouraging tauira to become advocates for our local environment is a key focus, and that our actions can benefit the environment, supporting our vision to allow Tīeke to live and thrive in the heart of Whakatāne.
We offer in-class and out-of-school education sessions, providing a diverse method of learning. Continue reading below for more details on this exciting programme that students love!
Alongside our education with tauira (students), kaiako (teachers) will also develop their skills and confidence in conservation education.
Field trip with Waimana kura, learning about different native plant species from our rohe
Trees for Survival planting day with James Street School at the Kōpeopeo Īnanga Spawning Site.
- increase confidence to partake in conversations about te taiao, our environment
- increase capabilities in asking questions, finding evidence and carrying out simple investigations, in order to explore their world
- explore various aspects of an environmental issue and make decisions about possible actions
- have increased opportunities to experience education outside the classroom
- understand that living things are suited to their habitat and have requirements to stay alive
- be able to classify living things as native, endemic or introduced, and appreciate that living things in Aotearoa are quite different from other areas of the world
MAtauranga Marau - eDUCATION tOPICS
Our education programme is based around a number of marau (topics). These are further tailored to complement current learning topics as required by kaiako.
Educators will run a number of wānanga in class to lay the whaariki (ground work) for the chosen topic. Following this, we facilitate outdoor experiences to apply our learning hands-on. Through our experience, we've found this to be the most effective way for tamariki to deeply engage with their whenua, resulting in significant learning.
Halo Whakatāne are lucky to have many connections within our community which allows us more opportunity in accessing many wonderful sites of the Whakatāne district.
We have also built a large and varied resource bank, including the lovely support of volunteers, which enables kaiako to easily get their class outdoors. We support kaiako with all the necessary paperwork required for a successful trip, and will run the whole day.
Extra Learning Opportunities
In addition to our main education programme, there are other opportunities to get involved with Halo Whakatāne.
Team ‘Kiwi Kids’ from our 2024 DOMP Comp who placed 3rd in the Primary School category, gathering 3,438 pods!!! (obviously not all in this picture hehe)
D.O.M.P Comp
One such initiative is our annual DOMP Comp (Destruction of Moth Plant Competition) held in Term 2. This competition aims to empower tamariki by showcasing their potential impact on the environment and their capacity to drive change.
We deliver learning about pest plant species and their negative impact on our environment in a fun way, and invite all local kura to take part. After a very successful first year collecting over 13,000 moth plant pods in 2023, students more than doubled their haul in 2024, removing over 36,000 pods from our community!
Trapping
Hands-on activities (trap building and trapping) are offered, where students not only get practical experience but also gain a deeper understanding of the importance and impact of what we’re doing. Our focus is on providing meaningful context and education, ensuring that everyone involved comprehends the reasoning and significance behind our mahi.
Student from Trident High School SEC showing off the trap she built!
Tamariki from James Street Kura enjoying Ōtamakaokao
Experience Ōtamakaokao
If you’re looking for a more local and low-key approach, we also run short sessions at Ōtamakaokao (Awatapu Lagoon). These sessions cover a wide array of learning outcomes and focus on practical skills, enabling participants to observe the natural wildlife in this serene space.
The programme focuses on student leadership, te ao Māori, learning by doing, the development of authentic skills and knowledge, while respecting mātauranga Māori.
Want to get your tamariki involved?
If you are interested in engaging with our kaupapa please get in touch with us at haloeduc@gmail.com.
Trident High School SEC posing with their Trees for Survival plants before planting them at Ōtamakaokao.
We value the support of our collaborative contract, titled 'Enriching Local Curriculum,' established with
Eastbay REAP, which has allowed us to fund a second full-time educator.
Have you participated in any of our Education Programmes? We’d love to hear from you!
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