Carterton Kindergarten is this year’s worthy recipient of the Enviroschools He Taonga o Kaitiakitanga – a Māui Dolphin print. The honour of looking after this Taonga was passed on by rangatahi from Fergusson Intermediate in Upper Hutt, which they had received in August 2024. The purpose of the Taonga is to recognise schools and centres who are taking action for nature and the community, being a strong role model for others. It is also to inspire them to continue in this journey.
Carterton Kindergarten is a place where tamariki daily participate in and often lead sustainable practices in their centre, such as sorting their waste so they can recycle it or feed it to the worms, leaving very little to go to landfill. They bottle their worm wee to use at home for growing fruit and vegetables or share it with the community, along with the kindling they cut. They also foster sharing through their pātaka kai for excess food and pātaka pukapuka for books.
Carterton Kindergarten funds Martin the Toymaker to work with tamariki, as well as create toys made from natural materials, to help the centre eliminate as much plastic from their environment as possible. Tamariki connect with nature through their established bush area where they hunt for insects, recognise native trees and watch birds that are visiting.
Wairarapa Enviroschools Facilitator Gill Stewart said:
“Carterton Kindergarten was chosen to receive this honour as the kaiako, led by Nelly Kendall-Carpenter, have embedded sustainability into their curriculum and always look to deepen their practices. They host Enviroschools Kaiako Hubs, regularly sharing with and inspiring other early childhood centres throughout the Wairarapa. The whole teaching team is committed to making it work.”
The Māui Dolphin print, by local Porirua artist Sheyne Tuffrey, was gifted to Enviroschools in 2017 by Dame Tariana Turia, to share it more widely with young people. It was given to her by Greenpeace as part of a campaign for politicians to improve protection for the Māui dolphin. It is one of 55 prints as that was how many Māui dolphins were left in 2013.
Carterton Kindergarten is the 8th recipient of the Taonga across Te Upoko o te Ika a Maui – the Wellington Region. The only other Wairarapa Enviroschool to have received it was Fernridge School in 2020.
Present at the ceremony was Mayor Ron Mark, Helen Dew, local sustainability champion and Helen Waldron, the original head teacher who started Carterton Kindergarten on their journey of sustainability and kaitiakitanga over 20 years ago. They shared their pride and encouragement to keep being leaders in the community, inspiring others.