Photo credit: Right, Adele Krantz; top left, Bryan Lowe; bottom left, Luke Harvey

Te Mātauranga Taiao

Conservation education

Find conservation education resources to help learners explore, protect and care for the taiao of Tāmaki Makaurau.

Photo credit: Right, Adele Krantz; top left, Bryan Lowe; bottom left, Luke Harvey

Educating the next generation about conservation and sustainability is critical for the future of Tāmaki Makaurau. The resources on this page are designed to support classroom and field-based teaching by promoting opportunities for outdoor learning, scientific inquiry and practicing kaitiakitanga (guardianship).

How to use this page

Whether you're planning classroom activities or outdoor experiences, browse by theme to find teaching materials and activities that engage your students in meaningful conservation learning. Resources may be used and adapted to suit different learning needs and ability levels from early childhood education centres through to secondary school. Many of the resources include relevant health and safety considerations.

Quick links to themes:

Start with these resources
Tools and maps – Explore species, habitats, and environmental data in your area.
Discover biodiversity – living world, the scientific method and place-based ecosystem learning.
Protect nature – Weeds, pests, and conservation monitoring.
Water & marin e – Freshwater and ocean ecosystems.
Your patch – Local park walks and backyard nature activities.

Most resources include health and safety guidance. Scroll through the selection below to find resources that engage your students in meaningful learning.

Keep up to date with our channels on the Facebook page and PF news.

Start with these resources

Education for sustainability

Find tools and resources for environmental and sustainability education.

Resources for teachers from the Sustainable Schools team

The Sustainable Schools team supports early childhood centres, schools and youth to foster principles of kaitiakitanga and sustainability through student-led action. Select from a variety of resources to get you started.

DOC education resources

Search the Department of Conservation's teaching resources for learning in and about nature.

Landcare Research teaching resources

Manaaki whenua teaching resources - multiple learning areas including pollination and weed control.

Useful tools

Conservation map of Tāmaki Makaurau

View our conservation maps to help you make more informed decisions about conservation in Tāmaki Makaurau.

Auckland Council GeoMaps

A public map of data held by the council and other relevant public data.

iNaturalist educator's guide

A teachers guide to the iNaturalist educational tool that uses mobile technology to identify plant and animal species.

eDNA data across Tāmaki Makaurau

Environmental DNA/genetic material shed by organisms in the environment can be detected in waterways. See what eDNA monitoring has been carried out in your area.

Conservation education connections

Enhancing biodiversity in your green space

This resource provides ideas and learning experiences to enhance native and endemic biodiversity.

Tools for environmental action

Use this resource to plan and carry out successful environmental action.

Science Learning Hub resources

New Zealand science education resources that include articles, activities and videos suitable for both primary and secondary students.

Enhancing our taiao (environment)

Investigating weeds in your greenspace

An education resource with cross curricula links for classrooms wanting to investigate weeds in the local environment.

PDF download 4.48 MB

Plant Me Instead

Learn about what to plant in your garden instead of ornamental plants that can escape and damage our natural areas.

PDF download 2.93 MB

Trees for Survival

An environmental education programme which involves young people growing and planting native trees to restore natural habitats by helping landowners.

Experiencing native trees in your green space

Use this resource to experience native trees in your school grounds.

Experiencing invertebrates in your green space

Use this resource to investigate invertebrates in your school and local area.

PDF download 3.57 MB

Experiencing birds in your green space

This resource is part of protecting the environment series, to encourage primary and intermediate students to go outdoors, explore and connect to a local green space.

Landcare Research teaching resources

Manaaki whenua teaching resources - multiple learning areas including pollination and weed control.

Conservation dogs protecting the Hauraki Gulf

Meet Auckland Council's dogs with jobs. These cuties help protect our natural environment from harmful animals and diseases.

Saving our ngahere (forest)

Common native fungi of Tāmaki Makaurau Poster

Discover the fascinating world of Tāmaki Makaurau’s native fungi. This quick visual guide highlights some of our most common species helping you spot, learn and connect with the hidden life of our forests.

PDF download 417 KB

Garden Bird Survey

The Garden Bird Survey is a citizen science project that helps students discover and learn more about New Zealand’s garden birds.

Investigating introduced predators in your green space

An education resource with cross curricula links for classrooms wanting to investigate introduced predators in their local environment.

PDF download 4.2 MB

Kauri dieback school resources

Promote kauri protection by nurturing your student’s knowledge. These resources were developed by the Kauri Protection programme for use in schools.

Chew card guide

A guide to the interpretation of animal tooth impressions to discover what’s in your backyard.

PDF download 2.43 MB

Can we make NZ pest free

This series of lesson plans focuses on students becoming actively involved in contributing to a pest-free New Zealand

Pest Detective

An online tool to help you identify the presence of pest animals.

Weed biocontrol education resources

Biocontrol of weeds is an exciting topic at both the primary and secondary levels. The background information and lessons provided can help you meet learning objectives in the Living World and Nature of Science strands of the science curriculum.

Biocontrol - Science Learning Hub

An introduction to Biocontrol from the Science Learning Hub

Kids learning resources about pekapeka/native bats of Aotearoa

This Online Nature Classroom is all about the pekapeka/native Bats of aotearoa

Discovering pekapeka - native bats

Science and social science based cross-curriculum activities about pekapeka/bats.

Oct 2025

Pekapeka/bats of Aotearoa

A resource for teachers on pekapeka/bats created by the NZ Association of Science Educators

PDF download 1.7MB

Oct 2025

Bats with kid reporter Dominique, What Now TV show

What Now TV show's animal expert Dominique goes exploring the wonderful world of bats in the Waitākere Ranges.

Caring for our awa, repo and roto (rivers, wetlands and lakes)

Mountains to Sea

Mountains to Sea is a freshwater community conservation education programme.

Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Rāwhitiroa

An example of a kura taking conservation action.

May 2023

Auckland stream life

Auckland parks A3 poster of freshwater species found in the streams of Tāmaki Makaurau

PDF download 3 MB

Protecting our moana (oceans)

Threat to Seabird Poster

Discover a stunning collection of posters produced by NZ Seabird, perfect for printing and using in your classroom.

Harbour, bays and estuaries teaching resource

Use this resource to learn how to protect our unique marine environment.

Estuaries - a Māori perspective

An activity for students to explore Māori perspectives concerning estuaries.

Protecting our estuaries

Use this resource to learn about, explore and protect our unique estuarine environments.

Experiencing Marine Reserves

A national programme of experiential learning about marine conservation.

Young Ocean Explorers

Educational videos about our marine environment.

Sustainable Coastlines

Coordinate and support large-scale coastal clean-up events, educational programs, public awareness campaigns and riparian planting projects.

Blake

A virtual reality project that connects students with the marine environment and teacher programmes.

Connecting to your local park

Classroom in the Parks

Classroom in the parks is a self-guided discovery walk programme for schools and the community.

Adopt a Park school programme

A wonderful opportunity for students to learn about their local park and its habitats, get out of the classroom and do something good for the community and the environment.

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