Enviroschools

🌿Nau Mai ki Enviroschools

Enviroschools is Aotearoa’s leading sustainability education programme, empowering young people to design and lead environmental projects in their schools, early learning centres, communities, and beyond.

Coordinated nationally by the Toimata Foundation, the programme supports over 1,600 schools and centres across the country.

At its heart, Enviroschools is action-based: students are encouraged to explore, plan, act, and reflect on meaningful sustainability initiatives rooted in their local environment.

🌿Enviroschools Kaupapa

Enviroschools is guided by a kaupapa of creating a healthy, peaceful, and sustainable world through shared learning and collective action. This vision is embedded in five key Guiding Principles:

  1. Empowered Learners

  2. Learning for Sustainability

  3. Te Ao Māori

  4. Respect for Diversity

  5. Sustainable Communities

🌿Waitomo District Council & Enviroschools

We are proud to play a key role in supporting the Enviroschools programme across our district.

This nationally recognised sustainability education initiative empowers tamariki and rangatahi to take meaningful action for the environment - at school, in their communities, and for the future.

Our Local Commitment We support Enviroschools in the Waitomo district through two main avenues: 

💡 Funding & Facilitator Support

In partnership with Waikato Regional Council, we co-fund the Enviroschools programme to ensure local schools and early childhood centres have access to:

  • Expert facilitators who guide and support each school’s unique sustainability journey
  • Tailored resources, tools, and workshops
  • Ongoing mentoring to help integrate environmental learning into everyday teaching and school culture

🤝 Strengthening Community Connections

Enviroschools aligns with our goals in youth development, environmental stewardship, and building strong local partnerships.

We actively support schools to connect with iwi, whānau, and local organisations - creating opportunities for collaborative, community-led sustainability projects that reflect the values and aspirations of our district.