Friday, 24 October 2025, 9:54 am Press Release: Northland Regional Council
A
file shot of Whangārei Boys High School, part of a
Waiarohia Stream restoration project funded in last year’s
ELF along with three other Whangārei schools.
(Photo/Supplied)
Twenty-two
Northland schools and early childhood centres are to share
in $42,000 of Northland Regional Council Environmental
Leaders Funding for projects ranging from a food forest to
water conservation efforts.
Council Chief Executive
Officer Jonathan Gibbard says the Environmental Leaders Fund
(ELF) aims to support schools and early childhood centres
(ECC) with projects that increase their students' knowledge
and passion for the environment.
He says as Northland
responds and adapts to a changing climate, the funded
projects will help to build climate resilience in the
region’s schools and surrounding
communities.
"Schools and ECC can apply for up to
$3000 each (excluding GST) in categories including exploring
alternative energy and sustainable transport, improving
biodiversity, supporting a circular economy and reducing
waste, protecting and preserving water and growing
kai."
In total 29 eligible schools and ECCs had
applied for $81,156 in ELF grants, roughly twice the funding
available this year-.
Successful applicants, the
district they’re based in, their project name and the
GST-inclusive (subs: crrct inclusive) amounts granted
are:
Aranga school (Kaipara); Aranga Tanga,
$2266
BestStart Pipiwai Rd (Whangārei); Sustainable
Nurturing and Growth, $600
Broadwood Area School
(Far North); Rotokakahi River and Broadwood Picnic Area
Restoration Group, $2937.31
Harinui Early Childhood
Learning Centre (Far North); Water conservation project,
$1100
Hurupaki School (Whangārei); Hurupaki School
Growing Futures Project, $3000
Kaipara Kids Early
Learning Centre (Kaipara); All about wai,
$2600
Maungaturoto Primary School (Kaipara); School
Seedlings, $1376.24
Mission Place Kindergarten (Far
North); Ko wai ko au, ko au ko wai - I am water, water is
me. Water is life. Protecting and Preserving Water,
$2000
Morningside School (Whangārei); Garden to
Table / Maara ki te tepu, $1000
Pakaraka School (Far
North); Ikura Kura, $2300
Pouto School (Kaipara);
Pātaka Kai o te Kura o Pouto, $2000
Pukenui School
(Far North); Pukenui Maunga Restoration,
$2000--
Renew School (Whangārei); 2025 Eco Friendly
School space, $1000
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Pukemiro
(Far North); Te Whakaruruhau Taiao, $3000
Te Kura o
Waihārara (Far North); Kai for Hauora: Strengthening
Resilience Through Whenua-Based Learning, $3000
Te
Kura Takiwa O Opononi (Far North); Opononi Mara Kai,
$1500
The Ridge Childcare (Far North); Kākahu Pēpi
Para Kore - ‘Waste-free Baby Clothing/Nappies’,
$1500
Tutukaka Coast Playcentre (Whangārei); Living
classroom- Food forest, $2000
Whananaki School
(Whangārei); Te Pātaka o Whananaki - The Whananaki
Storehouse, $2934
Whangarei Heads School
(Whangārei); Re-establishing our bush tracks - stage 2 -
bridge and step safety, $880
Whangārei Primary
School (Whangārei); Water Pump for irrigation,
$2000.
Notes:
-While
schools and ECEs can apply for a maximum of $3000 excluding
GST, the figures listed in this release include the amounts
they were granted including GST.
--This year’s
Environmental Leaders Fund was boosted by an extra $2000
donation from the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network.
That funding went to Pukenui School’s Pukenui Maunga
Restoration project, supporting the school’s efforts to
protect native life and enhance local
biodiversity.