Kaitiaki Kindergartens are proud to be part of the Kindergartens Aotearoa collective, championing high-quality, sustainable early childhood education that nurtures tamariki, supports whānau, and strengthens communities across the North Shore area of Tāmaki Makaurau. In this post Chief Executive / Kaiwhakahaere Matua Tara Solomon shares their sustainability story.

Empowering tamariki to build a better future

Across our network of 14 kindergartens, we recognised a shared need to cultivate a generation of innovative, motivated individuals, thinkers and leaders who approach challenges critically and act with sustainability in mind. In partnership with Enviroschools, we embarked on a mission to empower tamariki to design and lead projects that enhance their environment, embedding sustainable practices into their daily lives, kindergartens, and communities.

In both urban and rural settings, tamariki displayed a deep curiosity about the world, often wondering why streams were polluted or where the birds had gone, yet their mana as capable change-makers was often overlooked. Whānau were eager to support sustainability but unsure where to begin, while communities faced pressing challenges such as waste management and the loss of green spaces. The challenge was clear: to empower tamariki, alongside kaiako and whānau, to take responsibility for their environment and embrace their role as global citizens with the power to make a lasting impact.

Weaving sustainability into everyday learning

As an organisation of 14 kindergartens, 13 actively engaged in Enviroschools and one aligning through parallel mahi, we saw this challenge as an opportunity. Guided by the principles of Te Whāriki, we have woven sustainability into every strand of learning, empowering tamariki to take action on local and global issues of citizenship.

Kaiako nurture tamariki as proactive advocates, creating regular opportunities to connect with and care for their environment. At one kindergarten, children restored a polluted waterway, transforming it into a thriving, healthy ecosystem. Across all 14 kindergartens, we embrace the environment as a resource, streams, bush, and playgrounds became living classrooms, rich with hands-on learning opportunities. This isn’t just play; it is tamariki exploring the complexities of society, engaging as critical, informed, and responsible citizens.

The mahi led by our tamariki not only aligns with our organisation’s priorities but also connects to wider government strategies and global commitments. Our work contributes to Aotearoa’s obligations under international frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child—all of which emphasise sustainability, climate action, and children’s rights to a healthy environment.

Collaboration is the key to success

Kaiako, whānau, and tamariki work in partnership, guided by Enviroschools’ action-oriented ethos and Māori principles like kaitiakitanga. Leadership within our organisation plays a crucial role in supporting initiatives that drive positive social and environmental outcomes, changes that ripple across generations. When child-led action is supported by adult advocacy, true transformation occurs, proving that sustainability starts small but grows far and wide.

Our tamariki are making a real difference

The impact continues to ripple outward. Across our kindergartens, tamariki are planting native trees, reducing waste, conserving water, recycling, and even engaging in predator trapping.

Among whānau surveyed across our network, 53% have noticed a shift in how their children approach sustainability.

These changes are not just shaping tamariki, they’re influencing entire households. Whānau report becoming more mindful of waste reduction, recycling, minimising plastic use, composting, water conservation, and introducing sorting systems at home. Their children are emerging as role models within their homes and extended whānau, leading advocacy efforts to restore and protect Papatūānuku.

Testimonies capture the heart of this transformation. One whānau member shared,

“Our children are holding us accountable!”

Another reflected on their child’s advocacy, saying,

“We’ve started repurposing product packaging, egg cartons, and old boxes for arts and crafts—turning what was once waste into something beautiful.”

Seeing our tamariki drive real-world change is not just inspiring, it gives us hope for the future.

A legacy of care

These stories embody our shared values: empowering tamariki as catalysts for change, nurturing kaitiakitanga, and cultivating communities that flourish sustainably. Through Enviroschools and our deep commitment to Te Whāriki, our 14 kindergartens demonstrate that learner agency, tamariki investigating how societies work and stepping up as critical, engaged citizens, sows the seeds for profound transformation. These children are the generation poised to redefine our world, and our kindergartens are the ground where this journey begins. By honouring their mana and fostering their bond with the environment, we’re doing more than teaching sustainability, we’re cultivating a legacy of care that will resonate through generations to come.

Our tamariki are the catalyst for transformative and sustainable change.

Learn more about Kaitiaki Kindergartens:
https://www.kaitiakikindergartens.org.nz/