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Education in Te Mata Park

WE ARE KAITIAKI

All individuals, schools and organisations are welcome to join us in learning about Te Mata Park and how to care for it. The Park offers local children a living classroom rich in historical, cultural and spiritual significance. Outdoor education here connects young people to this treasured local taonga through hands-on exploration, shared stories and meaningful experiences in nature.

By building a strong sense of place and belonging, children grow not only in knowledge and confidence, but also in responsibility – becoming kaitiaki of this special landscape and helping to care for it for generations to come.

Learning in nature

Schools are free to engage with the Park and learn from all it has to offer. The Te Mata Park team can assist with planning a school visit and may be able to provide guided support as well. Ideas for a visit include:

  • A hikoi to the Little Redwoods to learn about these giants of the Park, complete a scavenger hunt, and find the Te Mata Beetle
  • A visit to Webb’s Bush to identify native flora and fauna and learn about the oldest pocket of native bush in Te Mata Park
  • Native tree planting (winter only and dependent on planting plans)
  • Any activity that can support or extend students’ learning – for example nature sculptures with found items, a photography expedition, a geological focused field trip, and more!

We also encourage teachers and parents to make use of the digital Learning Guides on our website which provide a wealth of educational information and activities. These four guides can be found here

Please get in touch with Catherine Mueller if you need any support for your visit.

Schools for Trees

The Schools for Trees programme connects local school children with Te Mata Park through hands-on outdoor learning and native tree planting and maintenance. Each participating school is allocated its own small plot within the Park, where students plant native trees and return throughout the year to care for them – weeding, checking growth, identifying species, removing pests and helping their trees to thrive.

Through these regular visits, children build a meaningful connection with the whenua, learn about local flora and fauna and grow in their understanding of what it means to be kaitiaki.

The programme began in 2021 with five schools and has grown to partnerships with nine local kura.

Learning Guides and Activities

These guides are teacher and parent resources for enriching your experiences in different areas of the Park. Each guide has accompanying activities, discovery questions, and links to other resources to deepen your learning. Created by Sara Shaw and Sonya Sedgwick with the support of local experts and educators, especially Mike Lusk. The Rongoā Guide was written by rongoā practitioner Tyne-Marie Nelson, the leader of the Te Mata Rongoā Maara.

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Haere mai | Welcome to Te Mata Park and its famous peak, one of the most loved and visited places in Hawke’s Bay.
Gifted in perpetuity to the community in 1927 and managed by a small group of volunteer trustees, with appreciated help from local councils and the community, the Park is a cultural, historical and recreational treasure.

Seven time winner of the prestigious international green space award.

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