Much needed boost for Enviroschools Hawke's Bay

Enviroschools Hawke's Bay regional co-ordinator Sally Chandler (left), Napier Intermediate School teacher Ruby Howard and Year 7 students Heidi-Ann Phillips and Temepara Reihana. Photo / Warren Buckland

A regional programme that equips the next generation to act sustainability has received a much needed cash injection, following recent Council Long Term Plan submissions.

Enviroschool Hawke's Bay has had its funding increased to $15,000 per annum for three years, from the Napier City Council, which will be shared with the Napier Kindergarten Association.

Meanwhile Central Hawke's Bay District Council has allocated $10,000 - the first donation since the programme began in 2003. Hawke's Bay Regional Council has been a consistent funding partner.

Regional co-ordinator Sally Chandler from the regional council said the funding means they can increase their reach into other schools keen to join the programme as well as increase the hours of their facilitators who deliver it.

"This is a real win for our schools and the environment."

Central Hawke's Bay has six Enviroschools; Argyll East, Pukehou, Sherwood, Flemington, Omakere and Elsthorpe, with the capacity now to increase. Along with two kindergartens Waipawa and Lakeview.

"With the support of CHBDC, we can deliver the environmental messages that are important to them. We also plan to work with other schools in the region to deliver important environmental messages for council, especially around waste."

Napier has five schools in the programme; Marewa, Napier Intermediate, Nelson Park, Tamatea High School and Eskdale and 11 kindergartens; Marewa, Tamatea, Te Awanga, Bette Christie, Carlyle, Eskview, Greenmeadows, Mary Richmond, Onekawa, Pirimai and Riversdale. In total, Hawke's Bay has 56 Enviroschools.

The Enviroschools programme is designed to drive long-term behaviour change towards sustainable practices and create a generation of people who think and act sustainably.

"It empowers young people to plan, design and take action in their schools and communities. With this new and increased financial support this becomes more achievable in our region.

"Once they start seeing the benefits for biodiversity and keeping rubbish out of the landfill etc, they then take those messages home and so it helps to get it out and create a behaviour change."