Students from Opaki School planting at Dunvegan Station, Wairarapa

Dunvegan Calling

7 May 2022

Opaki School student volunteers plant over 200 native trees in a lowland native forest block on Dunvegan Station, owned by Mike Wyeth.

Rathkeale College student Carlo Isaac plants a kowhai as part of a school planting activity

Funding Opens Doors To More Schools

14 April 2022

In the three years since it was founded, the Ruamahanga Restoration Trust has successfully raised over $160,000 for schools and local community groups to use towards restoration plantings, predator control, water science kits, and a student conservation award prize. 

Photo of Ruamahanga River with the Trust House logo and the Ruamahanga Restoration Trust logo

Trust House Contributes to Schools Behind Our River

7 April 2022

Masterton Trust House continues to provide funding support for our signature project ‘Schools Behind Our River’, allowing us to deliver hands-on learning opportunities for school students to embrace environmental conservation projects that connect local communities with the health of their river catchment, Māori heritage, and sustainable biodiversity goals.

Students from Kura Kaupapa o Wairarapa and Mākoura College on the upper Ruamahanga River

Mokomoko Field Trip

27 November 2021

The Ruamahanga Restoration Trust recently teamed up with Mokomoko to sponsor a very special student field trip to the river, organised by Mokomoko CCEM Program Coordinator, Sam Ludden.

Schools Behind Our River Tracking & Trapping Predator Kit Contents

TG Macarthy Trust

17 November 2021

The TG Macarthy Trust recently contributed $5000 to provide equipment for the Ruamahanga Restoration Trust's 'Schools Behind our River' project. The Macarthy Trust funds will be used to purchase a complete set of five tracking and trapping predator kits.

Rathkeale College students planting alongside the Kiriwhakapa Steam

Students Support Farm Restoration Project

4 November 2021

Rathkeale College students recently helped plant 1200 manuka plugs alongside the Kiriwhakapa Steam at the Matt and Lynley Wyeth’s Ratanui Farm northwest of Masterton, creating eco-corridors of native plants that will, in turn, provide shade for the streams, healthier habitats for fish and native birds, and cleaner water for those downstream.

Te Kura O Papatuanuku Wairarapa Earth School students holding a "Schools Behind Our River" banner

A Moment To Nurture Nature

28 October 2021

“Take a moment to nurture nature” was the theme embraced by Te Kura O Papatuanuku Wairarapa Earth School in Carterton this year for Conservation Week, which the Ruamahanga Restoration Trust supported with a large donation of native seedlings.

Students participating in a restoration planting activity alongside the Mākoura stream

Mākoura Connection

24 October 2021

Students from the local te reo school, Kura Kaupapa ki Wairarapa, and Mākoura College recently participated in a Mokomoko restoration planting activity alongside Mākoura stream on the outskirts of Masterton, using seedlings supplied by the Ruamahanga Restoration Trust.

Kelly Body, Michael Birch, Gill Stewart, Campbell McLean with a predator kit

Predator Kits Rolled out for Local Schools

3 October 2021

The Ruamahanga Restoration Trust is pleased to announce a special partnership with Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre and Enviroschools Wairarapa to distribute predator kits as part of an educational initiative to help school students understand the need and benefit of wildlife monitoring and predator trapping.

Student scientists from Pirinoa School look down on a stream on Palliser Ridge Station

Student Scientists Test Local Waters

18 September 2021

Students engaged in water analysis activities gain such a rich learning experience, using Water Analysis Kits to help understand more about the health of the waterways behind their school.