Community partnership inspiring a new green generation

Kaupapa Māori Environment Youth Charity and Community

Every Thursday, the classrooms at Kaharoa School are empty as pupils dive hands-first into a different kind of lesson — one that's rooted in the earth itself.

These pupils are caring for their new food forest – learning about where their kai comes from and the love, time, and effort that’s required to grow it.

These lessons in nature aren’t just about planting seeds; it's a journey of reconnection that sees tamariki nurturing the whenua and reigniting age-old skills that modern-day convenience threatens.

In partnership with Backyard Paradise and Kai Rotorua, Kaharoa School has planted a food forest full of fruit trees and vegetables, which pupils are tasked with caring for, growing, and harvesting, learning their food doesn’t just come from the supermarket.

Kai Rotorua received funding through Rotorua Lakes Council’s Neighbourhood Matching Fund, which was granted to support initiatives like this, that build stronger and healthier communities.

Kai Rotorua co-founder, Te Rangikaheke Kiripatea says the food forest helps tamariki to reconnect with papatūānuku through kai and learn about sustainability.

“As a society, we have become disconnected from our food and where it comes from. This project aims to educate tamariki about the importance of being able to grow your own food.”

Te Rangikaheke says there are many lessons tamariki are taking away from the food forest.

“They are learning about diversity, how long it takes for fruit and vegetables to grow, and what we need to do to nourish our whenua, so we can continue to draw from it."

“The current students will eventually leave, but there will be more coming through to learn, and this is a project that can continue for years to come."

“We go by the saying that a community that knows how to grow its own food is well nourished and well connected – and that is evident at Kaharoa.”

Te Rangikaheke says he’s seen tamariki come out to the forest with spades and big smiles on their faces.

“They love getting involved and learning about their connection to papatūānuku, and again it’s all about that connection – seeing the students get out of the classroom and in tune with our environment.”

Kaharoa School Principal, Lynden Cook, says he is excited about this school-wide project that will be sustainable for at least a decade as the trees mature.

“Previous initiatives, like our kumera growing patch, didn’t really last, especially with all the rabbits around. But we have fenced off the food forest and with regular maintenance, this is a project that will keep going.”

He says the school has dedicated time to educate tamariki on how to look after the food forest.

“Every Thursday morning, a group of tamariki are outside learning to take care of it. We are rotating classes so that one class will look after it for a term and then they swap with another class."

“It’s a project we are proud of, and we believe that by continuing this project in the years to come, we will contribute to creating a more sustainable future for tamariki in our community.”

He hopes the flow-on effect of this partnership and its teachings will grow awareness of sustainability for the next generation.