Christchurch kaupapa Māori school honoured for innovative sustainability project at Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates (back row 9th L), is pictured with the 2025 Zayed Sustainability Prize winners, during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week with world leaders, including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

• Christchurch’s Te Pā o Rākaihautū won the 2025 Zayed Sustainability Prize for its Puku Māra project.
• The project uses indigenous biocultural technology to tackle climate change, food insecurity, and land degradation.
• The $267,000 award will expand the project, benefiting over 100,000 people and promoting sustainability.

Christchurch’s kaupapa Māori school Te Pā o Rākaihautū has been named the winner of the 2025 Zayed Sustainability Prize in the Global High Schools – East Asia & the Pacific category.

The school was recognised for its groundbreaking Puku Māra project, which uses indigenous biocultural technology to address global challenges such as climate change, food insecurity, and land degradation.

The Puku Māra project, inspired by the sustainable practices of Māori ancestors, integrates traditional knowledge and modern solutions to restore ecosystems and strengthen communities. The project will benefit over 100,000 people, including Te Pā’s 280 students, their families, and wider community networks, by promoting food sovereignty, carbon sequestration, land restoration, waste reduction, and cultural empowerment.

Lamya Fawwaz, director of the Zayed Sustainability Prize, praised the school’s initiative:

“Te Pā o Rākaihautū’s project exemplifies how indigenous wisdom can lead the way in tackling modern challenges. By combining traditional practices with innovative approaches, the school has created a blueprint for sustainability that not only preserves the environment but also strengthens cultural identity and community resilience.”

Terina Ranginui Tahau, principal of Te Pā o Rākaihautū, shared her pride: “We want to grow the next generation of explorers, leaders, gardeners and navigators – culturally grounded, connected, smart, taiao literate, pā kids – Tū ki te ao, tau ana! Mō Tātou, Mā Tātou, E Ai Ki a Tātou – For Us, By Us, Our Way. Guiding our Puku Māra project is tika (correct and appropriate), pono (true and genuine) and aroha (love). Giving back to our taiao is the right thing to do. It is honest work and true to our Māori values. Love is the heart of everything – without it this project would not be possible.”

Drawing on their ancestors’ profound understanding of the environment, Te Pā’s students and community demonstrate the transformative potential of indigenous knowledge in addressing critical issues such as food insecurity, climate change, and biodiversity loss. Their project embodies the school’s philosophy of holistic learning, cultural connection, and environmental stewardship.

The $267,000 (US$150,000) award will enable Te Pā o Rākaihautū to expand the Puku Māra project, consolidating current efforts and extending to new areas such as Te Waipapa on Banks Peninsula. The initiative will also establish long-term platforms for knowledge-sharing, including eco-networks and partnerships, empowering the next generation to lead sustainability efforts grounded in indigenous practices.

The Zayed Sustainability Prize honours organisations and high schools driving impactful and innovative solutions across health, food, energy, water, climate action, and global high schools categories. Since its inception, the prize has positively impacted the lives of over 407 million people worldwide, carrying forward the visionary legacy of the UAE’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Since 2013, the prize has awarded 56 high schools under its global high schools category from regions such as the Americas, Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East & North Africa, Europe & Central Asia, South Asia, and East Asia & Pacific. To date, these projects have impacted over 56,599 students and 480,660 people in their wider communities.