Tauranga City Council Education Programmes

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A range of resources and education programmes to inspire and help people take better care of our planet.

Aerial view of Tauranga city centre, harbour and surrounding coastal ecosystems in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. — Aerial view of Tauranga city centre, harbour and surrounding coastal environment in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.

This article provides information about a science-related experience to support school planning.

Programmes

Tauranga City Council offers a suite of environmental education programmes and resources designed to inspire students, teachers, schools and community groups to understand and take care of our natural environment.

🌱Learning Through Discovery | Tūhurangia kia ako

An outdoor parks education programme available free to primary and intermediate schools (Years 5–8). It includes four hands-on discovery experiences that focus on Tauranga’s local ecosystems:

Forest Discovery – experiential learning in forest ecosystems
Wetland Discovery – exploration of wetland habitats and ecological processes
Coastal Discovery – coastal environment field learning
Estuary Discovery – estuarine ecology and connections to wider ecosystems

Teachers can use associated planning units and follow-up resources to link field learning to the curriculum.

♻️ Community Waste Programmes

Waste minimisation programmes designed to support schools, businesses and households in reducing waste and promoting sustainable practices.

💧 Water Education | Hōtaka tiaki wai Māori

Practical programmes offered to schools and community groups to help learners explore freshwater ecosystems and the importance of water conservation

🚸 Travel Safe | Haere haumaru

An integrated approach to sustainable road safety outcomes across Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty, focusing on safe and environmentally aware travel.

Tauranga City Council also offers hands-on kits, interactive demonstrations and stormwater education experiences that can be booked for schools and community groups (e.g. water quality testing, stormwater and wastewater models).