Angela Mueller Biodiversity Educator
Kaipātiki students are stepping up as environmental champions, learning hands-on restoration skills and actively protecting their local ecosystems. With enthusiasm and purpose, these young kaitiaki are making a real difference in the fight against invasive plants and pest animals, helping to preserve the natural beauty of our parks and reserves.
Pest Free Kaipātiki has partnered with ten schools across the Kaipātiki area, where many schools are situated near park buffer zones—vital areas that help protect high-value reserves. These buffer zones, extending 500 metres from the park boundary, are crucial in preventing the spread of pest plants, which can quickly invade native ecosystems and outcompete local species.
Pest plants, resilient and fast-growing, pose a serious threat. They can choke out native flora, smother young seedlings and reduce essential food sources and habitats for native wildlife, including birds and reptiles.
Through PFK’s school programme, students are learning about critical environmental issues like pest plant management, kauri dieback, and myrtle rust. Their hands-on activities range from pulling invasive plants and planting native species to post-planting care, such as mulching and ongoing weeding. Some students are even involved in setting traps for pests in nearby reserves.
The results have been impressive:
Significant weed control and native planting have enhanced school environments.
Students have tackled a massive pest plant problem in Beach Haven Gully.
A group, aptly named the Asparagus Assassins, has brought a climbing asparagus infestation under control.
One school has replaced a non-native lilly pilly hedge with thriving native plants.
Trapping groups have been established to protect native wildlife.
This year, one school is diving deeper into wetlands ecology, utilising their education outside the classroom time to visit Soldier’s Bay, a vital wetland in the region.
Kaipātiki’s future is in good hands with these young environmentalists. Schools can do so much to help preserve and enhance the ecology in their area!
If you'd like to learn more about our school programme and how you can get involved, please reach out to us at team@pfk.org.nz.
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