Kids Enhancing Tawa Ecosystems

Established in 2021, the Kids Enhancing Tawa Ecosystems (KETE) initiative was designed to address climate anxiety among young people by empowering them to take tangible action in caring for their environment. In collaboration with local schools, KETE engages students from all eight Tawa schools in a variety of environmental projects, including litter and pest management, stream monitoring, and native planting in the Kenepuru Stream Catchment. In doing so, KETE seeks to fostering a sense of kaitiakitanga among tamariki and rangatahi.

The programme is structured around a Collaborative Community Education Model (CCEM), which places schools and students at its heart, supported by community groups, stakeholders, and a strategic leadership team. The programme emphasizes three interconnected strands of education:

(1) Education about the environment – Developing knowledge and skills.

(2) Education for the environment – Encouraging action to restore, grow, and protect.

(3) Education in the environment – Connecting students to nature and place.

A key highlight of KETE’s work is its large-scale planting projects. Over 22,000 plants have been planted and maintained with the help of 1,500 students, kaiako, whānau helpers and volunteers.

Student leadership is a focal point of the initiative, with student leadership teams from each school involved in all aspects of the programme. From designing the KETE logo to conducting research on native plants and speaking to community groups, young leaders actively shape and drive the initiative.