A collaborative communities education project that empowers young people to lead community action in creating a healthy river.

Healthy river, healthy people – Oranga awa, oranga tāngata
This project is an opportunity for students to connect and collaborate with each other and develop as leaders.
There are over 100 schools and early childhood education centres within one kilometre of the awa/river. Many of these are taking action for the river or have connections to their river through their cultural narrative.
Our student leadership team (2020) includes representatives from five schools; Hillmorton and Cashmere High Schools, Our Lady of Assumption, Beckenham Te Kura o Pūroto and West Spreydon primary school.
Meet our education coordinator Sally Airey
"I live near the awa and bike or walk along it every day, and with my whānau have taken part in river clean-ups and other initiatives along the river.
I am inspired by the actions that our students have undertaken this year, and their passion to protect and enhance the health of the Ōpāwaho/Heathcote catchment."
Contact Sally by emailing Sally.Airey@ccc.govt.nz.