An Enviroschools teacher's hui in Cromwell last Thursday, attracted 22 educators from across Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago.

Regional co-ordinator Chelsea Donnelly said the annual hui offered teachers from early childhood to secondary school level a refresher on the kaupapa and what resources were available to them.

“Most of the teachers are key educators that have a key interest in Enviroschools, and our facilitators took them through a series of activities they could do with their students and staff.”

They also heard from two Otago Regional Council staff about the mahi they do for the region and how schools can tap into their expertise and local knowledge. 

Catchment advisor Ollie Eden-Mann was among those who also gave an insight into their roles and the opportunities to connect tamariki with the wider regional mahi.

Enviroschools facilitators Lucy Francke, back left, Nicky Grey, back right, Damian Foster, front left, and regional coordinator Chelsea Donnelly, front right. PHOTO: Supplied

The third quest speaker was Julia Blackford, a plant-based specialist and food sustainability expert.

Her work involves defining new product initiatives that are going to achieve behaviour change goals, understanding food systems and how we can rethink these so they are creating lower environmental impacts.

She has also been working in the in the area of community food resilience. 

“Food resilience focuses on reframing our local food systems to one which will serve us in both short term crisis, or with longer term adaptation.”

“Everyone present found Julia's presentation highly topical and it initiated a lot of discussion amongst the group of how to connect our tamariki and wider communities again with the art of growing our own food."

Chelsea said it was important to show teachers that it shouldn’t have to be extra work being an Enviroschool, as there was funding to pay for teacher release time.

The purpose of the day was also about connecting teachers with other environmental groups in their communities, so they can feel supported and know what is available to them.