Developing a local community nursery into a learning hub and facility to propagate and grow native plants began in 2021. Since then, it has flourished. The main aim of the project is to increase biodiversity in our local area, but its value to the local community is proving to be much broader than this.

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Establishing the Community Native Nursery (CNN) within the Waitaki Valley School (WVS) grounds begun in 2022, thanks to a collaborative effort between the Hakataramea Sustainability Collective and the school. At the same time, the action-based education programme got underway for WVS tamariki with community workshops starting later that year.

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WVS sees the project as a rich local curriculum learning and partnership opportunity for students. The integrated education programme combines a mix of hands-on learning modules/units delivered by local and professional experts. The community native nursery supports the education of local plant species propagation. Then planting activities in and around the local area embed the learning through positive experiences preparing, planting and protecting areas of biodiversity. 

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The project is being coordinated by the Hakataramea Sustainability Collective (HSC) and is governed by a Steering Group, including Waitaki Valley School (WVS) and community representatives.

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We are grateful for the support of the key project funders - Ministry for Primary Industries and the Lower Waitaki Zone Committee.

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