Environment Committee 11 May 2016

Report No. 16-80 Information Only - No Decision Required

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

1. PURPOSE 1.1. The purpose of this item is to provide members of Council’s Environment Committee with an Environmental Education progress report for the period 27 February to 30 April 2016.

2. RECOMMENDATION That the Committee recommends that Council: a. receives the information contained in Report No. 16-80.

3. FINANCIAL IMPACT 3.1. There is no financial impact associated with recommendations in this paper.

4. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 4.1. This is a public item and therefore Council may deem this sufficient to inform the public.

5. SIGNIFICANT BUSINESS RISK IMPACT 5.1. There is no significant business risk associated with recommendations in this paper.

6. ANNUAL PLAN TARGETS

Reporting Period YTD Measure Target % F/cast 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Actual Enviroschools workshops held 1 5 1 3 10 24 41% <100% Waiora sessions conducted 3 13 2 21 39 31 125% >100% Community engagements 4 4 0 5 13 30 43% <100% 6.1. The measure for Enviroschools workshops held includes workshops run by the Regional Coordinator as well as workshops run by contracted Facilitators. 6.2. The measure for Waiora sessions conducted includes only sessions run by the Educator. Sessions conducted using Horizons Regional Council’s kits without the Educator are not included. 6.3. The measure for community engagements does not include Waiora sessions or Enviroschools workshops. This measure tracks all other events and activities that fall within environmental education. 6.4. For further detail on all of the measures see the environmental education summary table.

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Environment Committee 11 May 2016 7. ENVIROSCHOOLS DATA

Districts

Ruahine Palmerston Ruapehu Wanganui Rangitikei Manawatu Tararua Horowhenua Kindergarten Total North City Association Enviroschools 4 9 5 10 6 3 1 3 41 Friends of 2 3 1 1 7 3 0 6 23 Enviroschools 7.1. There are 41 official Enviroschools spread throughout the Region covering all districts. 7.2. There are 23 Friends of Enviroschools in the Region.

8. ACTIVITY REPORT - WAIORA 8.1. The Educator conducted the following Waiora sessions: one session with West End Scouts on the Kahuterawa Stream at Camp Kilsby; eight sessions with Lytton Street School on Cone Creek at Sixtus Lodge; four sessions with Milson School on the River at Totara Reserve; one session with Westmount School on the Pohangina River at Raumai Reserve; one session with Lytton Street School on the at Waitoetoe Park in celebration of the launch of the second Action Plan for the Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord; two sessions with Havelock North Primary School on the Pohangina River at Totara Reserve; two sessions with Bainesse School on the Pohangina River at Totara Reserve; two sessions with Taonui School on the Pohangina River at Totara Reserve. 8.2. The following schools/groups borrowed a Horizons’ Waiora kit to conduct their own individual water quality testing: Levin Intermediate School. Kits remain booked out with both North Street School and an after-school programme on the Mangatera Stream in Dannevirke.

9. ACTIVITY REPORT - ENVIROSCHOOLS 9.1. Kakahi School, who has been an Enviroschool for a number of years, accepted voluntary closure with effect from 15 April 2016. The Principal acknowledged the hard work the school has done for the local community and the restoration of native areas and streams. 9.2. City Council (PNCC) confirmed Enviroschools funding for three years through a contract with their Fee for Service. The contract is due to be negotiated in May, but PNCC have indicated the contract will be up to $15,000.00 each year for three years. The new funding would take effect in the 2016-2017 financial year. 9.3. Ruapehu District Council confirmed Enviroschools funding for the Ruapehu District effective immediately. The funding will be $7,000.00 from the 2016-2017 financial year, but from 30 March to 30 June 2016 the funding available is $2,350.00. 9.4. Natasha de Rose has been contracted to facilitate in the Ruapehu District. 9.5. The current Enviroschools Facilitator for the Tararua District and Palmerston North City, Fiona Murray, has indicated she will be stepping down 30 June 2016 and not renewing her contract. This is due to a variety of reasons and not because of any dissatisfaction with the role. She has expressed her enjoyment of the Enviroschools work and the people she has worked with along the way. Recruitment for the role is underway with a contract having been offered to a preferred candidate. 9.6. The Regional Coordinator presented to Ruapehu District Council on the 2014 Enviroschools census. The presentation was warmly received with many positive comments offered from council about the Enviroschools Programme. 9.7. The Regional Coordinator attended an Enviroschools Regional Coordinator Hui.

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Environment Committee 11 May 2016 9.8. The Regional Coordinator met with the Ruahine Kindergarten Association Enviroschools Leadership Team to review the annual implementation plan and begin the process of growing the Enviroschools Programme amongst the Association. 9.9. The Regional Coordinator has met with both the Health Promoting Schools Advisor from MidCentral DHB and the Nappy Godmother. These meetings were to see how best to support sustainability messages with the local resources and opportunities on offer alongside the kaupapa of the Enviroschools Programme. 9.10. The Regional Coordinator had meetings with the following Friends of Enviroschools or potential Friends of Enviroschools: Marton Junction Community Preschool; Manakau School; Kindergarten; Follett Street Kindergarten; Hokowhitu Kindergarten. 9.11. New Friends of Enviroschools: Riverdale Kindergarten; Marton Junction Community Preschool; Love and Learn Care and Education; Matariki Rudolph Steiner Kindergarten.

10. ACTIVITY REPORT - OTHER 10.1. The Educator supported events run throughout multiple districts in celebration of the launch of the second Action Plan for the Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord. This support included: liaising with Riverdale Kindergarten to create a pledge board which has been on display in the reception of Regional House in Palmerston North; supporting the Manawatū River clean-up event; attending the Foxton Beach BBQ event where they unveiled the Foxton Beach School signs for the local trapping project; holding a Waiora session with Lytton Street School students at Waitoetoe Park; and supporting the Picnic by the River event at Dittmer Reserve. 10.2. The Educator supported the Central Districts Field Days. 10.3. The Educator hosted the BBQ at Totara Reserve for the Manawatu Walking Festival. Aaron Madden, Ruth Fleeson and Neil Gallagher hosted the walkers on the Fern Walk. Feedback about the hosts on the walk as well as the BBQ has been positive. 10.4. The Educator ran two sessions with Taitoko School on the water conservation resource Kura Kaitiaki. The two classes will continue to work through the resource over the rest of the school year. 10.5. Seaweek 2016 ran 27 February to 6 March. The Educator supported Westmere School at Mowhanau Beach alongside the Department of Conservation, Whanganui Regional Museum and Sarjeant Gallery.

11. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION SUMMARY Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date . A Keep New Zealand Beautiful event at ANZAC Park in Palmerston North planned and run as a multi-district event by the Palmerston North and Manawatu Facilitators in lieu of individual Term 3 district workshops. Target . An inter-district early childhood education workshop planned 24 workshops held and run by the Palmerston North and Manawatu Facilitators. . A regional all day reflections process workshop. YTD . A Term 4 Manawatu workshop run by the Manawatu Facilitator. Enviroschools 10 workshops held . A Term 4 Palmerston North workshop run by the Palmerston North Facilitator. NOTE: workshops run by . A Term 4 Wanganui workshop run by the Wanganui Facilitator. Regional Coordinator . A Term 4 Rangitikei workshop run by the Rangitikei Facilitator. unless otherwise stated . A Term 1 Palmerston North workshop run by the Palmerston North Facilitator. . A Term 1 Tararua workshop run by the Tararua Facilitator. . A Term 1 Wanganui workshop run by the Wanganui Facilitator.

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Environment Committee 11 May 2016 Project Key Deliverables Progress to Date . One session with Levin Intermediate at Gladstone Reserve. . One session with North Street School on the Makino Stream. . One session with Whangaehu School on the Whangaehu River. . Four sessions with Aokautere School on an unnamed stream that runs through the school grounds. . Four sessions with Ross Intermediate School at Ruamahunga Park. . Three further sessions with Ross Intermediate School at Waitoetoe Park. Target . Two sessions with Clifton School on the Rangitikei River. 31 sessions conducted . One session with Ngapuke School on the Pungapunga River.

Waiora . One session with Westmount School at Kahuterawa Reserve. YTD . One session with West End Scouts at Camp Kilsby. 39 sessions conducted . Eight sessions with Lytton Street School at Sixtus Lodge.

. Four sessions with Milson School at Totara Reserve. . One session with Westmount School at Raumai Reserve. . One session with Lytton Street School at Waitoetoe Park in celebration of the launch of the second Action Plan for the Manawatū River Leaders’ Accord. . Two sessions with Havelock North Primary School at Totara Reserve. . Two sessions with Bainesse School at Totara Reserve. . Two sessions with Taonui School at Totara Reserve. . Shannon School in support of their native tree project. . Two interactive water conservation sessions with Fairfield School in support of Junior Neighbourhood Support – counted as one community engagement. . Four interactive water conservation sessions with Taitoko School in support of Junior Neighbourhood Support – counted as one Target community engagement. 30 Community . River Journey with Feilding Girl Guides. engagements . Kimbolton School’s Green-Gold whole school reflection. Community . Sustainability sessions with Central Normal School. engagements YTD . Bushy Park’s Education Day for Conservation Week. 13 community . Challenge Day at Totara Reserve for Conservation Week. engagements . Three Manawatū River Leaders’ accord events. . The Central Districts Field Days. . The Manawatu Walking Festival . Two interactive water conservation sessions with Taitoko School – counted as one community engagement. . One event for Seaweek with Westmere School at Mowhanau Beach.

12. SIGNIFICANCE 12.1. This is not a significant decision according to the Council’s Policy on Significance and Engagement.

Helen Thomas ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR

Ally Koehler MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

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Environment Committee 11 May 2016

ANNEXES There are no attachments to this report.

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