Kicking off this year’s activities is the restoration of Tikipunga Wetland in Tikipunga, Whangārei, on Thursday 22 May. Nestled beside Bupa’s Tōtara Gardens Retirement Village and Care Home, the long-neglected wetland will benefit from Bupa residents, local school children, staff, and community volunteers coming together to restore native habitat and strengthen ties between people and place.
On June 5, Arbor Day, the Junior Landcare Thames Planting Project with Pārāwai School will commence. Situated next to the Thames Bike Pump Track, the planting will restore the surrounding area with native plants and trees and include information for the children on exercise and staying fit.
Pedro Sanchez, Managing Director of Bupa New Zealand, says the programme is a unique way to bring generations together to deliver meaningful nature restoration in their own backyards.
“This is more than an environmental project – it’s about building a shared legacy and promoting health and wellbeing outcomes from being active in nature. The Junior Landcare Programme allows our residents to connect with younger generations while giving back to nature.
“The impact has been far-reaching in just one year, and we’re excited to build on that momentum with this new round of community-led projects,” he says.
The programme’s first year delivered impressive results:
- Nine legacy projects across nine regions
- 60 environmental events, reaching 2,912 attendees
- 41 school visits, engaging 2,141 young people
- Partnerships with 31 national and local organisations
- A suite of resources, including a, 21 printable activities, a nature Activity Book, and a mindfulness video series
Hands-on experiences have ranged from citizen science demonstrations to flax weaving and nature-based education outings, integrating cultural and wellbeing aspects into environmental action. Further detail on Junior Landcare’s first year of activities can be found in the programme’s annual report.
Dr Nick Edgar, CEO of NZ Landcare Trust, says the partnership demonstrates the power of collaboration.
“The Junior Landcare Programme is bringing communities together in a powerful way. By connecting schools, Bupa residents, and local environmental groups, we’re not only restoring nature — we’re growing relationships and resilience. We’re thrilled to see the programme expand to new sites this year.”
Dr Nick Edgar, CEO of NZ Landcare Trust
