Pongakawa School is the first school in the Bay of Plenty and is just one of 17 schools around the country to achieve the Green-Gold Enviroschools Award.
To achieve the award, the school established long-term behaviour changes for sustainability both in their own grounds and in the surrounding community.

Pongakawa School students accept the Green-Gold Enviroschools award with Rotorua MP Todd McClay and Environment BOP Councillor Raewyn Bennett.

The award was presented to the school by Environment BOP Councillor Raewyn Bennett and Rotorua MP Todd McClay on Friday.
Raewyn says the students show a depth of understanding about linking their actions to wider sustainability issues.
"Students have thought beyond planting trees to consider how and why they are improving an ecosystem," says Raewyn.
"They also see how this project naturally leads on to improving the neighbouring wetland ecosystem to provide for a wider range of fauna and flora.
"Pongakawa School is a model for other schools in the Bay, with students actively involved in restoring and preserving the Pongakawa Reserve, a native bush area."