Investing in kids will save waste in future

Children will learn about waste and recycling with a Sustainability Trust-run programme getting a $157,000 grant from the Government’s Waste Minimisation Fund, Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage announced today.

The Minister also announced $100,000 for Environment Hubs Aotearoa from the Community Environment Fund.

“The Sustainability Trust’s new “Your Sustainable School” programme will improve waste and recycling infrastructure at primary schools in the Wellington region, and help the whole school community develop a zero-waste culture,” Eugenie Sage said.

“Across New Zealand schools send a significant amount of waste to landfill. Engaging school communities with ideas like recycling and composting will empower children to make good choices that benefit the environment.

“Investing in our children so they develop an understanding of the environment while they are at school will be good for them and New Zealand in the long run.”

The Sustainability Trust is a member of the Environment Hubs Aotearoa network which is to benefit from $100,000 through the Community Environment Fund. The money will include developing a national impact reporting framework for the network, based on the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

“This project will provide clear insights on the collective impact that New Zealand’s environment centres are having in achieving the UN goals, demonstrating how local communities can connect with global issues and make a measurable difference.

“Environment centres do wonderful work with communities throughout New Zealand, and we need to tell their stories more, including the overall impact they are having.

“The Community Environment Fund exists to help New Zealanders take environmental action, and I am pleased it is being used to help connect local community action with global sustainability outcomes”.

 

Latest Environment Announcements

Story

Overwhelming opposition to fast-track legislation Luxon's Government will ignore, again

In a case of déjà vu nightmare, the Green Party stands with 95 per cent of submitters to the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Bill, opposing this pro...
Read More

Story

Hauraki Marine Bill a huge step despite Govt backtrack

The passing of the Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill has been hailed as a significant step by the Green Party, despite concessions...
Read More

Story

Environment Minister abusing role to put freshwater at risk

Documents obtained under the Official Information Act have revealed the Minister for the Environment is pressuring local councils to allow ‘water t...
Read More

Story

National direction changes mark dark day for people and planet

Today’s sweeping changes to environmental protections paint a damning picture of a government hellbent on profit at all costs, openly allowing more...
Read More

Story

Minister for the Environment missing in action in Budget 2025

Budget 2025 makes it crystal clear that this Government has no interest in protecting nature or securing a liveable future for our tamariki.
Read More

Story

Greens question Govt commitment to environmental protection with RMA reform

The Greens are calling on the Government to follow through on their vague promises of environmental protection in their Resource Management Act (RM...
Read More

Latest Waste Announcements

Story

Opportunity to build a more sustainable economy

Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is calling on all parties to support a common-sense change that’s great for the planet and great for consumer...
Read More

Story

Greens welcome waste strategy release and work

The Green Party is today welcoming the release of the Government’s waste strategy, but says it has a big gap without action on the container return...
Read More

Story

Container return scheme will benefit recycling and the oceans

The work Green Ministers did last term is continuing to make a difference, with the announcement today that the Government is planning to introduce...
Read More

Story

Waste strategy needs to learn from nature

Anything less than a transformational national waste strategy and waste legislation will not be enough, the Green Party said today.
Read More

Story

Greens welcome progress on hard to recycle and single use plastics, but more needs to be done

The Green Party welcomes progress on the phase-out of some hard to recycle plastics and some single-use plastics, but says more must be done.
Read More

Story

More action on waste – Government funds recycling infrastructure, moves to standardise kerbside collections

$36.7m Government investment in high-tech recycling plants nationwide Plan to standardise and improve the nation’s kerbside collections As part o...
Read More

Latest Education Announcements

Story

Scrapping NCEA will take Aotearoa Back to the Future

The government’s proposal to scrap NCEA risks turning back the clock on decades of progress toward a student-centred system.
Read More

Story

Budget 2025 leaves future of school lunches uncertain

The future of the Ka Ora | Ka Ako school lunch programme looks to be uncertain with Budget 2025 failing to provide any funding beyond 2026. 
Read More

Story

Report shows Govt’s callous lack of support for system at breaking point

A new report from Aotearoa Educators’ Collective, released today, has confirmed what teachers, students, and whanau have been calling out for years...
Read More

Story

Rangatahi voices must be centred in Government’s Relationship and Sexuality Education refresh

In response to a new report from ERO, the Government has acknowledged the urgent need for consistency across the curriculum for Relationship and Se...
Read More

Story

Green Party appalled by woeful Government offer to school support staff

Support staff across Aotearoa have been dealt yet another devastating blow with the release of the latest collective agreement offer from the Gover...
Read More

Story

Greens call on Govt to leave Te Reo in schools alone

As Te Wiki o te Reo Māori approaches, the Government is considering deprioritising teaching Te Reo Māori in our schools. 
Read More