What we do
We are advocates for the Te Puna Taiao kaupapa, to government, iwi, hapū, schools, and to private funders to improve and maximise the potential of our outdoor spaces. We also share learnings from our research.
In the initial stage of our establishment we focused on establishing best-practice case-studies and creating places of inspiration by providing intensive project support to specific schools and communities to apply the Te Puna Taiao kaupapa in the way that best suited them.
We worked to help set the standard for what makes best-practice outdoor school spaces, providing flexible ideas and inspiration that can be adapted to the needs of each school or community.
When working with stakeholders, our role was to listen to what each interested school and community wanted to achieve for their unique situation, and to help get them there. We tried to empower tamariki and communities by providing practical support in re-imagining what their spaces could look like, helping them to secure funding, and implement the approach, right through to assisting with re-thinking how outdoor spaces are used.
Having completed several case studies we now have three focus areas for our broader work:
1. Research and information-sharing
We keep up to date with research in relevant fields and help to disseminate it, as well as giving ideas for how scientific research can be translated into practice.
2. Advocating for changed policy and practice
We work with government officials, iwi and hapū to advocate for policies and practices that maximise the potential of outdoor spaces in the lives of our kids and communities.
3. Raising the profile of the potential of Outdoor Spaces
We work to improve awareness amongst funders of the potential of outdoor spaces in improving hauora in our young people and communities.
WHAKATAUKI