Howick Ward schools have won the New Zealand Biosecurity Kura (School) Award.
Auckland has the unenviable reputation of being the “weediest city in the world”.
Four local boards [see below] have, with specialist advice, identified pest plant threats they want reduced in their areas, including the very invasive moth plant.
The Sustainable Schools team within Auckland Council worked with more than 30 schools in Howick and the Pest Free Howick Ward group, for their project Howick Schools’ Moth Plant competition.
The innovative Howick schools’ moth plant competition was created to engage and educate local students in biosecurity.
Each year the competition reaches early childhood centres, primary, intermediate and secondary students, teachers and whanau.
Challenging students to become committed to moth plant eradication and the creative approach to biosecurity engagement has produced outstanding results.
Students have collected around 148,000 moth plant pods and seedlings so far – achieving positive biosecurity outcomes for not only Howick but also the Otahuhu/Mangere, Ōtara/Papatoetoe and Orakei local board areas.
“This competition is proudly growing a new energetic group of conservation volunteers throughout the local board areas,” organisers said.
For more information, contact the Sustainable Schools team’s Cate Jessep at cate.jessep@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or on 021 246 7134.
