Environmental education for all

“Quality Builders, owned by Shane and Grace Lehmstedt, have been outstanding,” says Emily Court, GM at P˝kaha. “And that is true whichever way you look at it – price, local sourcing of materials, sustainability, and commitment to young people and M°ori.”

“We’re on board with those values,” Shane says. “And we’re exceptionally grateful to have had the opportunity to be associated with the environmental centre at P˝kaha. It’s unique.”

Establishing Quality Builders in 2005, Shane and Grace have since built the team up to about 20 sta˜ Both went to Wairarapa College and got together at a young age.

“Nathan, our foreman, has been with us since the start,” Shane says. “Nathan, Paul our project manager, the whole team, and our subcontractors: I just can’t praise them enough for the skills and e˜ ort they’ve brought – and bring – to this, and every, job.”

The build at P˝kaha has involved some ÿ rsts. Cassette

˙ ooring, for example.

It’s made in Masterton but has not previously been used in the district. And screw piles were the perfect solution for foundations in an ecologically sensitive site; a ÿ rst for the region. Lester Wolfreys and Emily Court have nothing but praise for the builders “who worked all hours, in all weathers, including under gazebos in terrible downpours.”

“P˝kaha has been the biggest project we’ve done,” Shane and Grace agree. And they’ve since won the contract to build the Wellington Free Ambulance station in Queen Street: another community-based project. Grace has also partnered with Bunnings to o˜ er Clever Living transportable homes to Wairarapa.

“We’ve just stayed true to our values and treat people how we want to be treated. It’s all about relationships.”

Te Whare Taiao o Manukura o˜ ers guided overnight education sessions as well as guided day education sessions. Students, their kaiako (teachers), and any parents who are staying overnight, get to experience modern, custom-built accommodation.

A commercial kitchen, eating space, AV equipment, showers, and a drying room are all available for use.

Per person costs are modest and are value for money given the extraordinary experiences on o˜ er. Light catering can be purchased from the K°k° Café for an additional cost per person.

The full overnight education experience for years 4 to 13 includes:

 Start at 11am one day and ÿ nish at 9.30am the next day.

 Two P˝kaha education guides to facilitate the sessions.

 A guided day education session.

 A guided dusk experience.

 A guided dawn experience.

The overnight (dusk and dawn) experience for years 4 to 13 includes:

 Start at 3.30pm one day and ÿ nish at 9.30am the following day.

 Two P˝kaha education guides to facilitate the sessions.

 A guided dusk experience.

 A guided dawn experience.

Guided day sessions can be standardized or customised for any age group from ECE to year 13:

 Four-hour sessions.

 With learning outcomes tailored to curriculum levels and unit standards.

 Kelly Body, Pou M°tauranga Education Director works with kaiako to develop teaching and learning to suit the students.

 Rangit°ne instructors take

Te Hikoi o P˝kaha sessions designed to share Rangit°ne knowledge, history, te reo M°ori, and te ao M°ori skills.

Just a few of the highlights of learning at P˝haka – depending on the session chosen and the ages of the students – include seeing Rangit°ne carvers (kaiwhakairo) in action, a tuna (eel) feed, the dawn chorus, a ÿ ve-minute bird count, walking the trap line as part of a predatorfree session, conservationspeciÿ c learning, understanding adaptations of ˙ ora and fauna, plant identiÿ cation, stream health, and so much more.

“While we design sessions around unit standards and curriculum requirements for students studying science, we can o˜ er just as much to students in other areas of study too,” says Kelly Body. “English classes could do nighttime poetry sessions, for example, or art classes could paint and create works of art and installations drawing on cultural and conservation themes.”

To investigate options further, contact Kelly Body, Pou M˜tauranga | Education Director on kelly@pukaha.org.nz Bookings enquiries can be made by calling 027 445 5272 or emailing bookings@pukaha.org.nz