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Ngahere reopening underscores legacy of learning and care

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Reported by Adrienne Grant, Facilitator (Hamilton City)

The Forest Lake ngahere's century-long story was recently honoured at its grand reopening, with a blessing from Ngāti Maahanga kaumātua and the unveiling of new signs by Principal Chris Jessop.

First proposed by the school's first principal in the 1920s, the ngahere has been much valued and well used over the years – with trenches even dug there for air-raid drills during World War Two.

The area of bush now boasts a brand-new boardwalk, providing an extended and much more functional outdoor classroom space. Bilingual signs – funded by the Waikato Regional Council Enviroschools Grant – now also convey the rich history and the ecology of this special place.

Image of Forest Lake board walk

The school's envirogroup, "Nature's Kaitiaki", helped create the signs so people could learn more about the trees, plants and history. Featuring the students' own artwork, they even include a treasure hunt accessed via QR code.

For students, the ngahere is a place to learn, connect and care for the environment. It is used for three full days every week by the school's Kura Taiao programme, with three dedicated kaiako continuing to extend learning and care for the ngahere.

The whole kura attended the reopening alongside representatives from Graeme Dingle Foundation Kiwi Can, Waikato Regional Council and Enviroschools.

Students and kaiako are continuing to deepen their connection to the space, while Hamilton City Council's Kids in Nature Programme works with students to build understanding and support a trapping programme at the school.

Together, the school community is recognising the ngahere as an island of biodiversity that supports the city's wider biodiversity goals and will continue to be enjoyed and used for learning for a long time to come.