We are a school committing to restore our little patch of Aotearoa and we are doing this through education.

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Matua Jake (left) is our programme coordinator - an environmentalist and teacher with a passion for our forests and for working together with others to restore these special spaces.

 

​Jake holds a Certificate in Horticulture, Bachelor of Teaching and a Diploma in Environmental Management. He says the best way to learn about our forests is to spend time in them and he has a strong desire to spark an interest in youth and get them involved in environmental restoration.

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​Jake is involved with the incredible Maungatautari Ecological Island Sanctuary in the Waikato and is Chair of the Waitao Landcare Group. He loves to get his hands dirty!

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Matua Amo (right) works alongside Jake and is an invaluable part of the team. He is our kaiāwhina (assistant/support) with a contagious excitement for our natural world. 

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Pāpā, kaiāwhina, ringatoi... he wears many pōtai! He has a strong foundation in te reo Māori, something we are lucky enough to draw upon frequently, and is beginning his teacher training this year too. 

 

Amo is a real asset to the programme and Gate Pā School as a whole. To put it simply, Jake couldn't have found a better right-hand man if he'd tried!