Moemoeā Platoon (Room 5) built 100 tunnels for Predator Free Newlands to fit in with the Wellington City Council Predator Free 2050 program. They were supported with materials from ITM Tawa with Predator Free Newlands and Kiwibank suppling the traps for each Tunnel box built.

They are now giving to those people who donate money to the project. The Predator Free Newlands has a target of 800 traps in the backyards of the area. Finding homes for 100 tunnel boxes will represent a considerable portion of the traps needed for the area. The RNZAF flew in a NH90 on the day to help motivate the students!

We had a great day. We planted 30 trees in our orchard and also had a visit from the NH 90 helicopter!

Newlands Intermediate

The NIS Ninjas really enjoyed being a part of the Student Volunteer Army project. Our focus was on conservation and the environment.

We had an Education Ranger from Zealandia come and speak to us about pests, planting, and backyard trapping. We built trapping tunnels using real estate signs donated by the local Harcourts agent. We learnt how to set them and record our findings using the iNaturalist app. Students also participated in a school clean up around the grounds.

In future, we will look to get our pest traps out on the school grounds and get back in touch with Zealandia next year to organise planting more native trees around our playground.