Waste to Wellbeing at Ōtorohanga Primary

Growing a Māra Kai at Ōtorohanga Primary

Ōtorohanga Primary School students are turning food waste into fresh kai with the creation of a new māra kai (food garden), supported through the Enviroschools programme funded by Ōtorohanga District Council.

Led by the school’s Enviro-Leaders, students have designed and built garden beds, planted kūmara, potatoes, and other crops, and even introduced a beehive and worm farms. With help from local groups, the project has expanded to include planter boxes, a tunnel house, and a Pātaka Kai for sharing produce.

The māra kai is more than a garden — it’s a hands-on classroom where tamariki learn about sustainability, culture, and community. Some of the harvest has already been shared during Matariki celebrations, with future plans to compost more food waste and continue growing for the wider community.

By supporting Enviroschools, the Council is proud to help projects like this flourish and strengthen connections between our rangatahi, their whānau, and the environment.

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