Students at Willowbank Primary School in Dannemora Auckland celebrated World Environment Day/Arbor Day by planting a kauri sapling at the front of their school.
700+ students gathered to watch the kauri being planted as the schools kapahaka group sang.
A kauri tree was chosen because students had studied kauri and kauri dieback using the school resource produced by the kauri dieback management programme.
Named Whakaruruhau o te Kura Which means 'Protector of the School'. The kauri was planted in the garden that borders the road and drop off area. Students will be able to watch it grow for many years after they have left the school.
Rob Mouldey from Auckland Council spoke to the children about kauri and kauri dieback. He told the students of the threat of kauri dieback and while the new kauri is the protector of the school we all need to be protectors of kauri and help stop the spread of kauri dieback.