In the small Northland coastal township of Tinopai, nestled on the northern Kaipara Harbour, beats the heart of this close community. Tinopai School, opened in 1916, is the hub of this proud township. It is not just a school, but a place to meet, relax, chill in for a while and, of course, play. In a special partnership between the school and the local community, a dedicated area for learning and nutrition has been nurtured and developed. This space, a community garden, is located within a picturesque corner of the school’s expansive outdoor spaces. It is meticulously maintained by local grandparents, tamariki and school staff and its benefits extend well beyond the borders of the Tinopai School grounds.

Grandparents and the wider Tinopai community have become important contributors, dedicating time and expertise to support tamariki in tending to the gardens and the pataka kai, located at the school entrance. This intergenerational collaboration not only imparts valuable skills but also strengthens the bonds between the older and younger members of the local community.

      Above: Checking if the strawberries are ready.                    Above: Tamariki making huts.

At the heart of this community engagement is a group sharing knowledge to students on the art of caring for gardens and cultivating vegetables for the school’s pataka kai. The hands-on approach not only teaches practical, life-long gardening skills but also a sense of pride and ownership among the tamariki. And, as one student was overheard commenting, “It’s a great workout for my fingers!”.

Tinopai School’s dedication to environmental stewardship is evident in its alignment with the kaupapa as an Enviroschool, having recently been awarded Silver status. The garden project exemplifies the school’s commitment to sustainability, ecological awareness, and the interconnectedness of the community with the environment.

The EnviroSchools programme has been woven into the fabric of Tinopai School’s garden initiative, providing a holistic framework for understanding the environmental impact of their actions. Students learn not just to cultivate plants but to do so in harmony with nature, considering the broader ecological implications. Some of the other community projects that the school has engaged in include “The Whitebait Connection” (a freshwater conservation education programme), The Tinopai Resource Management Unit (involving students learning about the restoration of wetlands, planting and identifying the mauri of the wetlands and whenua) and the Kaipara Moana Remediation programme (schools and their communities working together to facilitate  the restoration of wetlands in Tinopai such as the Puapua Creek). 

           Above: Eating produce from the garden.            Above: Seedlings nearly ready for planting.

Looking forward, Tinopai School envisions a continuation of this journey with a focus on a garden-to-plate initiative. The school aims to utilise the produce from the garden for its school lunches, fostering a deeper connection between the students and the food they consume. This forward-thinking approach aligns seamlessly with the school’s commitment to sustainability and community engagement.

Through regular communication and engagement with whānau, Tinopai School ensures that the wider community is not just informed but actively involved in the school’s activities. The garden serves as a meeting point, a collaborative space where knowledge is shared, relationships are strengthened, and a sense of belonging is cultivated and sustained.

Maree Rossiter, the Principal of Tinopai School, is full of praise for her local community. “Tinopai is an amazing community, it is so supportive.” To maximise this connection, she also ensures that the school operates an “open door” policy where locals can drop in and visit anytime. Many visit, donating seedlings, plants, fruit and other horticultural supplies.

As an embodiment of the school’s values, the garden project stands as a testament to the power of collaboration. It is a space where community members, grandparents, tamariki, and kaiako work alongside eachother.

In Tinopai, the school’s garden is a living example of how a shared commitment to the environment can foster deep connections among community members echoing the sentiment that indeed, “Tinopai School is Tinopai.”

Story Written by Sport Northland Healthy Active Learning team.