CATCHMENT EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS - PAPANUI
SUMMARY
The Papanui sub-catchment used a TLC Demonstration Grant to place education at the centre of catchment stewardship, strengthening connections between farmers, schools and the wider community. The project focused on engaging tamariki from Pukehou and Ōtāne Schools in hands-on learning that reflected the realities, challenges and opportunities within their own catchment.
By combining in-catchment learning experiences with practical, school-based growing initiatives, the project supported long-term understanding of water quality, land use, and restoration. It also aligned closely with the existing Improving Water Quality in the Papanui Catchment Strategy, particularly the goal of encouraging active participation across the catchment and integrating local schools into water quality and ecological restoration initiatives.
OUTCOME 1. SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS
With a strong focus on education, TLC supported the Papanui Catchment Group to deliver four field trips for students from Pukehou and Ōtāne Schools, giving them the chance to spend a full day learning about their catchment and building a connection with the land and waterways around them.
These hands-on experiences gave students the opportunity to explore local history, natural events and environmental science in a practical, engaging way. Activities included paddling in the river, testing water clarity, searching for macroinvertebrates, and running simple experiments - such as floating apples downstream to measure the river’s current. The students were fascinated by the range of creatures living in the water and enjoyed identifying what they found. For many, a highlight was reaching a Pā site and taking in the panoramic view across the catchment.
“These tours have been a fantastic way to connect young people with the land and waterways around them,” said Pixie Seligman, Catchment Coordinator at TLC. “It’s inspiring to see children learning about their environment in ways that simply can’t be replicated in a classroom.”
OUTCOME 2. SHADE HOUSES IN SCHOOLS
TLC partnered with Trees for Survival and the Wai Connection team at Sustainable Hawke’s Bay to establish new shade houses at Pukehou and Ōtāne Schools in the Papanui sub-catchment.
Each school received two large shade houses, each capable of holding up to 900 plants. This initiative gives students hands-on experience raising native seedlings, building practical skills while fostering a lasting connection to conservation and habitat restoration.
The shade houses, supplied by Trees for Survival, form part of a Hawke’s Bay pilot project, and TLC is pleased to be involved. Funding was provided through the Papanui sub-catchment via a TLC Demonstration Grant.
In December 2025, students from both schools selected and repotted native seedlings donated by Sustainable Hawke’s Bay. These seedlings will be nurtured in the shade houses before being planted back into restoration sites across the Papanui sub-catchment.
WITH THANKS
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The Papanui Catchment Group
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Simon and Lou White of Ludlow Farm
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Miles and Megan McBain of Kahotea Farming Ltd
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Pukehou School Bus Group
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Wai Connection team at Sustainable Hawke's Bay
FURTHER INFORMATION & CONTACT
To find out more about the Papanui sub-catchment, head to the Papanui sub-catchment page on this site.
To get in touch, please contact TLC Catchment Coordinator Pixie Seligman:
Email: tukicoordinator@gmail.com
Phone: 027 721 2423