2025 Report

One of the highlights of 2025 was being recognised as a finalist in the Wairarapa Awards in the Not-for-Profit category. This recognition raised awareness of our work and reinforced our role as a valued contributor to the local community.

Although fewer schools took up our offer of free native plants, nine participating schools planted just under 2,000 trees. Schools Behind Our River continues to support teachers and students with Tracking & Trapping workshops, Noticing Nature workshops, and access to two House of Science kits — valuable learning opportunities that many schools could not otherwise afford.

The Trust also fully-funded a visit to the Wairarapa by naturalist and educator Ruud Kleinpaste. Ruud visited six schools and appeared in a film about the Ruamāhanga.

Building on our support for community plantings across several QEII National Covenant sites, we launched the Upper Reaches project. This initiative delivers integrated ecological weed control, predator trapping, and native planting across sites of high ecological value. Designed as a long-term programme, Upper Reaches will continue to expand in both reach and ecological impact over the coming years.

Thanks to your support, we look forward to continuing this important work in 2026.