One of the pillars of the Taku Wairua programme is Citizenship - Rm 14 and 17 spent some time this week forming relationships with local legends who are restoring our gully.

Rooms 14 and 17 have been working with the Taku Wairua crew since the start of the year. They have been going through a programme of development and personal growth based around their four pillars; Belonging, Self Discovery, Goal Setting and Citizenship. Throughout the programme the students have heard from inspirational speakers who have made significant contributions to New Zealand and made links into how they got to where they have. It has been really great.

To end the two term experience, the children were able to take part in a trip to our very own backyard! We were able to meet George Lusty - a local legend who has been working hard with the Manga 'O group to restore our gully - Mangaonua.

We had a walk through the gully learning about the various natives plants, how they have gone about restoring it and a bit of the sad story around how it got that way in the first place. We also did a bit of a scavenger hunt for leaves then identified them and heard some of their uses in rongoā - Māori medicine.

What a great experience. We hope to be able to use this gully space more and more and work with George and his team to make a difference and grown in our citizenship.

Next term the other senior classes will start working with the Taku Wairua team.