Zealandia plans new bush classroom
Wellington’s eco-sanctuary is forging ahead with plans for a new bush classroom.
This month, Zealandia, which is owned by Wellington City Council, has been granted resource consent for its classroom and a new shelter.
The busy tourist attraction is popular with school groups, having become the largest provider of environmental education in the region.
More than 11,000 children have visited Zealandia over the past year to learn about biodiversity and wildlife.
The new classroom, to be built within the Karori sanctuary, will be used as an educational seating area for about 15 pupils.
Consent documents say the idea of a bush classroom is to create a unique learning environment for children, where Zealandia staff can teach them about the area and the facility’s conservation values.
Danielle Shanahan, Zealandia’s manager of conservation, research and learning, said the sanctuary had made a significant contribution to education in the Wellington region. It was focused on growth both locally and nationally. ‘‘We found there was a real need for education, and it was a niche we could fit into.’’
She’s currently working to embed environmental learning in high schools.
Building the shelter will take a maximum of 20 weeks, followed by another 15 weeks of construction for the bush classroom, according to Zealandia documents.
But Shanahan said it was still early days for the medium-term project, which was being funded by Rotary. It could take two or three years.
In the longer term, the plan involves creating partnerships with sanctuaries outside Wellington, so she was examining ways to expand its education and research programmes.
The new classroom will be constructed onsite using wood and shade cloth, with mature trees screening the external and internal views.
It will be located close to Te Mahanga Stream, near an established walking track and bridge.