Most Budget announcements take place in the Beehive but in May, whānau from Lower Hutt’s Te Kura Kaupapa Māori O Te Ara Whānui were some of the first to learn about new funding for Enviroschools and Te Aho Tū Roa.

Tens of thousands of children across Aotearoa will directly benefit from the $7.6 million funding announced by Māori Affairs Minister Hon Dr Pita Sharples and Environment Minister Hon Amy Adams. Enviroschools and Te Aho Tū Roa (the Māori immersion approach) environmental education programmes operate in 825 schools, kura and early childhood centres. They encourage children, their schools and whānau to think and act sustainably – at school, at home and in everyday life.

“Te Aho Tū Roa reminds us to teach and learn about what kaitiakitanga responsibilities are and how this role will impact on the future world. To understand what common sense steps we can make in our homes, whānau and marae: To be good kaitiaki of our ao,” says Kararaina Luke, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Ara Whānui principal.

Launching the event at the kura is something students will remember for a long time.

"Ka taea e mātou te whakaatu i o mātou mahi ki ngā Minita me ngā manuhiri”

– Kaea (Year 6)

“He pai te heri i ngā Minita me ngā manuhiri ki te titiro haere ki o mātou mahi”

– Manaaki (Year 4)

“He pai te whakaatu i ngā kōrero mō ngā mea i peitahia e mātou. Pērā ki ngā maunga, waka, harakeke me te awa. He mea hanga i ngā pepa hangarua,”

- Tahiti & Kimiora (Year 1)

Dr Sharples says environmental education was sometimes looked on as a luxury when it was actually an important vehicle to teach children about life and responsibilities.

“Because Te Aho Tū Roa and Enviroschools involves students, schools, whānau and communities: the results of this investment will be long-lasting.”

The new funding will strengthen Te Aho Tū Roa in kura like Te Kura Kaupapa Māori O Te Ara Whānui and encourage support from community partners such as businesses and local government.