Children in Pod 5 at Wānaka Primary School have raised $930.20 for local endangered birds this term as part of their New Pedagogies for Deep Learning action.

Year 3 and 4 students researched New Zealand native birds and discovered that a large percentage of our endemic birds are critically endangered. They took action by writing letters to the council, creating signs, and building traps for pests, bird houses and bird feeders. 

They also decided to raise money in a fundraising afternoon which saw the children busking and selling baking, bracelets, cat collars with bells, bird houses, coffee cup sleeves and wax wraps that they had created. After a pod vote, it was decided that the money raised would be donated to the Department of Conservation (DOC), where it could benefit the work already being done to protect NZ endemic birds. 

DOC Supervisor, Community, Caroline Ogle said it was “a pleasure” to receive the cheque from the Bank of Pod 5 on Monday along with colleague Jenn Noakes. 

“It was fantastic to hear the fundraising efforts that the class had undertaken, raising such a considerable sum to protect birdlife in our region. We are currently canvassing our team for ideas on how to use the money, with some suggestions so far including predator traps, signage to make the public aware of areas where rare birds are nesting, or assisting with some of the work already underway by local community groups,” said Ogle.

Teacher Lisa Thorne said: “Pod 5 teachers would like to thank DOC employees Heather Thorne and Nicky Van Zyl for their initial support with this project and all the friends and whanau who helped the children raise such an amazing amount.”

Read edition 1004 of the Wānaka Sun here.