Environmental Leaders Fund allocated

More than 20 Northland school projects will receive Environmental Leaders Fund backing this year.

Twenty-one schools Northland-wide have been allocated sums from $500 to $2000 to fund projects from beekeeping to possum fur plucking through the regional council's annual Environmental Leaders Fund (ELF).

Councillors Rick Stolwerk (the council's Coastal South constituency representative) and Justin Blaikie (Hokianga-Kaikohe) sat on the judging panel that recently allocated this year’s funding.

The fund aims to support Northland schools and their students to increase their environmental knowledge, passion and practice through projects that are practical, hands-on and have a positive environmental impact.

Councillor Stolwerk says both he and Cr Blaikie were thrilled with the variety and calibre of applications, as well as the interest schools and their pupils shared in attempting to make a real difference to Northland's environment.

“This year council is pleased to be able to fund 21 projects worth a total of $22,264 from the 28 schools which collectively applied for almost $46,000 over April and early May.”

Councillor Stolwerk says schools could apply for up to $2000, with applications that related to the regional council's core business of biodiversity, biosecurity and water quality typically having a greater chance of success.

"We would have liked to have been able to grant all 28 applications – and the full amounts they'd been seeking – but the available funding was limited, which unfortunately meant some schools did miss out."

He says of the 21 successful applicants, 13 (collectively worth $13,505) are from the Whangarei district, five (worth $4759) from the Far North and three (worth $4000) from Kaipara.

“It's great to see our young people taking such a keen interest in our environment and fantastic that as a council we're able to help them bring some of these projects to life.”

Councillor Stolwerk says the diverse projects ELF would help pay for included a possum fur plucker, beehive and beekeeping equipment and stream health monitoring kits.

Successful applicants in the Bream Bay and Kaipara areas include Ruakaka School, $700 for butterfly houses and bee gardens; Bream Bay College, $1000 for Takahiwai wetland restoration; Ruawai College, $1000 for beekeeping equipment; Dargaville High School, $1500 towards a possum fur plucker; and Tangowahine School, $1500 for a plant nursery.

FINANCIAL HELP: Bream Bay College teachers Emma Scobie-Jennings and Tony Baker, front, with Cr Rick Stolwerk and local landowner Luana Pirihi at the site of the Takahiwai wetland restoration project.