Rangiora High School targets sustainability centre

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from Northern Outlook

By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter

Rangiora High School plans to revitalise its school farm as a centre of sustainability.

The school’s board of trustees has made the decision to ‘‘regenerate’’ the school farm, principal Bruce Kearney said.

‘‘There is excitement in the community about the farm, but I find it difficult to market it because it is still very much a 1970s style farm and it has served its purpose.

‘‘But we are in a new world, with a focus on having a sustainable environment, so we need to re-address what we do.’’

Head of science David Newsham-West will take a year off from teaching next year to develop a plan for an ‘‘innovation hub’’ and a sustainability centre.

Newsham-West said he was keen to get buy-in from the local community and local businesses.

There were opportunities to work alongside Lincoln University, research organisations such as AgResearch, Industry Training Organisations and Ngāi Tūāhuriri, he said.

Rangiora students could even be involved in cutting edge research, such as testing digital collars on sheep and gathering the data or conducting soil tests.

One suggestion was even to develop a mountain bike track on the farm, with the school possibly hosting endurance events one day.

‘‘People are open to the idea of farms being diverse and flexible. Farms can’t just be a monoculture any more,’’ Newsham-West said.

‘‘We want to have a farm which models flexibility, sustainability and innovation.’’

The farm would continue to work alongside youth training service, ComCol, in offering equine studies and apiaries, while the intention was to continue farming sheep.

But it could also incorporate some viticulture, horticulture and other ideas which the school has not even thought of.

‘‘We are open to ideas across the board, we could have bio-nodes, we could teach pest control and biodiversity and we could even put in solar panels,’’ Newsham-West said.

He also saw opportunities for engaging staff across different subjects in the school and with ComCol North Canterbury next door.

‘‘There are opportunities for integrated learning and our geology and geography teachers are already talking about getting in drones and doing soil sampling.

‘‘Rather than fictitiously making up projects students can do on paper, we can get the students doing something real on site.

‘‘You can read a book or do film editing at home, but you can’t learn about moving stock unless you are hands on.’’

Building and hard materials and other school departments were also looking at ways of being involved in the farm, he said.

Whatever future plan was developed, Kearney said selling the farm was not option.

■ Public interest journalism funded through New Zealand on Air.