Purpose
In 2024, Gordonton Primary School were successful in their application to the Waikato Environmental Education Fund regarding their Project ‘Our unique identity’:
- That children understand that the conservation of native trees and forests is a priority in New Zealand due to their ecological value and cultural significance to the Māori people.
- That they know how to care for and protect our native forests from pests, diseases, and deforestation.
- The students will investigate how we can protect and care for our own native forest at Gordonton School.
Overview
A focus on Cultural Identity, and how our native trees give us a sense of our national identity and uniqueness.
Pukemokemoke Bush Reserve is in our local school area and we wish for our students to explore what is in their own backyard. A main focus for us would be that Pukemokemoke was gifted and the reasons behind this. We would look at the history of the land and how tangata whenua used the trees/plants, the impact settlers had on our endemic biodiversity and the importance of restoration and protection of our native trees.
We would use what we learn to ensure that we are correctly caring for the native tree area we have at school and what improvements we could make.
Report
- Gordonton School Report for Education Fund (PDF, 1.30 MB)
