Nurturing Nature in the Classroom
Kaiako Nature Connection Blossoms in West Auckland
In the heart of West Auckland, a growing network of passionate kaiako (teachers) are quietly reshaping what classroom learning can look like — bringing te taiao (the natural world) into everyday practice and strengthening relationships between tamariki and the places they belong to. What began as a small group of teachers coming together to share ideas has developed into something richer: a community of practice where educators learn with, from, and alongside one another, grounded in care, curiosity, and a shared commitment to nurturing wellbeing for both people and the environment.
The Kaiako Nature Connection initiative is guided by Bronwyn from Community Waitākere, whose years of experience as a primary school teacher and environmental educator have shaped a deeply relational approach to learning. Alongside her is Natasha from MPHS, whose background in secondary science education supports a hands-on, exploratory approach that encourages kaiako to engage with local environments and build confidence through doing. Together, they create spaces where kaiako feel listened to, valued, and supported to explore how school grounds and local environments can become meaningful sites of learning — not as an “add-on”, but as an extension of what already matters in their classrooms.
At the heart of the initiative is connection. Teachers from a dozen different schools are now part of the network, sharing challenges, ideas, and encouragement as they explore what’s possible within their own contexts. Through these relationships, kaiako are strengthening their confidence and agency, and practical opportunities are beginning to emerge. One teacher recently shared how they secured support from a local housing developer to fund garden beds at their school — a story that has since inspired others in the group to explore community-led resourcing and partnerships that support both learning and local ecosystems.
As the Kaiako Nature Connection network continues to evolve, it is doing so gently and intentionally — prioritising authentic relationships, shared learning, and long-term impact over scale. By supporting kaiako to lead locally grounded, nature-connected learning, this kaupapa contributes to a future where communities are confident, connected, and actively caring for their local environments. For the tamariki of West Auckland, this is more than learning outside — it is an invitation to belong, to lead, and to grow alongside the natural world.
This mahi reflects a deeper intention: supporting tamariki to build a lived, respectful relationship with the natural environments around them. Through hands-on experiences in gardens, parks, and local natural spaces, children are invited to slow down, notice, and care — learning how their actions can support the wellbeing of ecosystems and their own sense of connection and confidence. As kaiako grow more confident in leading this kind of learning, classrooms become places where curiosity, care, and responsibility are nurtured together, helping young people respond to environmental challenges with hope rather than fear.
If this kaupapa sounds like mahi you or your school might want to get involved with, we’d love to hear from you!