Kristin School Sustainability Updates

From Plastic to Plant-Based: How LEGO is Transforming Sustainability

Recently, LEGO has made a move to help make their plastic bricks more sustainable, with a goal to only sustainable materials by 2032. LEGO is shifting from traditional oil-based plastics to innovative plant-based materials like sugar cane polyethene.

CoS Article - Service Market 30/9

Council of Sustainability: Student Stationery Project Success

At the beginning of the year, the Council of Sustainability (CoS) realised that students and families are asked to buy an immense amount of stationery that isn’t used throughout the school year.

Sustainable Tourism: a realistic goal or an idealistic dream?

After COVID-19 there has been a spike in travel around the world. However, once popular tourist populations are calling out tourists, governments and tourism companies as they fear the effects of tourism will destroy the cultural heritage of their land. 

How the impacts of wind turbines on Marine Life is being studied

The South Taranaki Bight, an offshore wind energy project, is monitoring the impacts of turbines on marine life through using marine mammal detection devices. The project, which aims to build 70 turbines, will position three Passive Acoustic Monitoring devices on the seabed for 12 months.

Kristin Sustainable Groups Project

The Council of Sustainability is actively working on a project to connect and unify the Kristin Sustainable Group by creating a platform that provides easy access to their past projects, current activities, and future plans.

Sustainability at the Summer Olympics

The Summer Olympics are one of the biggest sporting events in the world. So, how are the Paris Olympics striving to be a greener event?

The Impact of Global Sustainability Standards on New Zealand Exports

A report highlights how global sustainability standards are shaping New Zealand's export practices.

Can AI be Used to Promote Sustainability?

AcademyEX is a tertiary institution in Auckland that offers a myriad of programmes focused on cybersecurity, AI, and robotics. In the artificial intelligence course, which is provided under a “Master of Technological Futures”, one of the key focuses is sustainability.

BYD reducing carbon emissions

BYD(Build Your Dreams) specialises in high-tech that aims to use technology to innovate for a better life. BYD’s is to provide low-carbon transportation solutions and contribute to sustainable development.

Primary School students across New Zealand are eating more vegetables than ever.

In the past year alone, Garden to Table engaged over 32,000 children, who spent over 55,000 hours in gardens and kitchens and consumed over 1 million vegetable-based meals.

Junior School Students at Kristin School Explore Solar Panels and Sustainability

Recently, Yr 5 students at Kristin School had the chance to learn about renewable energy by exploring the school's solar panel installations.

New Zealand’s Largest Planned Solar Farm is one step closer

Just last month, a new solar farm was proposed by Far North Solar Farm on the banks of Lake Benmore, near the town of Twizel in the South Island. This is a step in New Zealand's enviro history that will make a huge difference.

Kristin Energy Monitors: reducing energy waste

The Kristin School Energy Monitors group audits classrooms for unnecessary energy usage. They inform high-usage classes and promote sustainable practices. Power consumption has significantly decreased since the group began, demonstrating the impact of simple actions against energy waste.

Te Hōnonga a Iwi - a stakeholder-driven sustainability model.

This week a member of CoS had the incredible opportunity to attend a meeting at Te Hōnonga a Iwi where he got to learn about the model that the organisation adopts to cultivate positive change in our community and beyond. 

2024 Sustainable Summer Carnival!

Recently, on Friday the 22nd of March was Kristin's Annual Summer Carnival! And it was CoS's mission to make it a more sustainable, waste free event. Read more to found out how we did it!!!

Water meters

How water meters they can reduce leaks and water wastage. New Zealand loses more than 101 billion liters of water per year due to leaks and wastage however water meters have been shown to reduce this significantly and is looking to be heavily installed in Picton in order to solve water shortages.‍

Seabed mining in Taranaki

For 10 years, Trans-Tasman Resources has wanted to mine the seabed off the Taranaki coast. But what exactly does the proposal contain and how does it affect the environment?

Concerns on NZ's Fast-Track Legislation Impact on the Environment

New Zealand's fast-track infrastructure legislation sparks debate. Critics fear environmental impact, while supporters emphasise the need for streamlined processes.

Unknown Mass Fish Deaths in Whanganui

The Department of Conservation (DOC) is asking for the public's help in understanding a concerning issue: mass fish deaths in Whanganui. Reports have come in about dead fish, including eels, in the Whanganui River area.

COP 28

Some may argue that this year's climate COP has been the most effective in recent years. What agreements, pledges, and calls have been made?

Sustainable Groups Meeting

This week the Council of Sustainability held the first Kristin sustainable conference with all the sustainable groups within the school.

How can you More Sustainably Grow Food at Home?

Learn all about sustainable gardening to feed your whānau, while keeping sustainability in mind.

Senior School House Senate Fundraising Project

Over the last two years, the Kristin House Senates have been working closely with Auckland City Mission to raise money and volunteer.

Aquaponics - the Future of Food Production

As the world’s population continues to grow, and as climate change becomes an ever-increasing threat to global food security, one question must be answered: how can we grow more food with fewer natural resources?

Sustainable Tourism for the Summer

During the upcoming Summer holidays, how can you travel sustainably?

Sustainable Development at Kristin

As Kristin looks toward future developments, how can it do so with environmental, economic and social sustainability?

GAIL Conference at Kristin for 2023

During the Term 3 holidays, the annual GAIL Conference took place at Kristin. This year, it had the theme of diversity with a primary focus on cultural diversity.

Kristin's Service Market

Kristin held its annual service market on Thursday with a sustainable theme. It was a great success!

Year 8 Debate of our Time Unit

The 'Debate of our Time' unit in Year 8 and how it teaches us to be sustainable

Circular Economy Growing in NZ Companies and Organizations

How are our economies being sustainable?

Reducing our Impact on the Planet in this Upcoming Summer

How can you stay sustainable this Summer?

Bicultural Sustainability at Kristin - an interview with Angus Baker

To learn more about Bicultural sustainability at Kristin, I interviewed my good friend Angus Baker who has been extensively involved with efforts to promote biculturalism at Kristin.

Shanga Foundation in Tanzania

I visited the Shanga Foundation in Tanzania to see how they are fighting the ableist epidemic.

Unprecedented Maui Fires Spotlight Climate Change Crisis

The recent Maui fires, fueled by a changing climate, devastate a historic paradise, underscoring the urgent need for environmental action.

Sand Mining in Mangawhai and Pakiri

Some of our beloved beach towns are in danger because of industrial sand mining.

A Sustainable Aviation Industry

Air New Zealand and the New Zealand Government have announced funding for a new sustainable fuel to be used in the aviation industry.

The World's First Completely Electric Fossil Fuel Free Orchard

New Zealand is home to the world's first entirely fossil fuel-free orchard.

'Go Green' Expo

After attending Auckland's Go Green Expo, here are some thoughts...

Sustainability in the Surfing Industry: Lucy Campbell

Society has this idea that the surfing industry is an overly easygoing place that sincerely treasures nature. However, award-winning surfer Lucy Campbell has shed light on the industry that proves that impression wrong.

Sustainability at Australian Fashion Week

How was sustainability incorporated into Australian fashion week? Find out here!

Staff Compost Bins

Some of the latest sustainability news at Kristin includes the addition of compost bins for our staff to use.

Mycorrhizal Fungi: How Trees Talk to each other and Fight Climate Change

The idea of talking trees has intrigued the human mind for generations. But surely talking trees only exist in the fantasy world?

Fusion Sustainable Energy Breakthrough

Livermore Lab achieves sustainable energy breakthrough with fusion, unlocking clean, unlimited energy sources to reduce emissions and mitigate climate change.

Year 4 Water Unit

This week, Year 4 learnt about water quality with Sarah from Watercare. This visit ties into their Unit of Inquiry, which is all about water and how it is finite.

Kristin's Waste Team

What is the Roots and Shoots waste team? Read this to find out!

2023 Zero Waste Summer Carnival

What is CoS doing at the summer carnival this year? Take a look!

Sustainability at Kristin Update

Come and see Kristin's sustainability groups at the Summer carnival!

How can New Zealand Learn and Rebuild from the Recent Weather Havoc?

It’s been over two weeks since the National State of Emergency was declared on the 14th of February 2023, due to Cyclone Gabrielle. It is evident that climate change is upon us, how can we rebuild New Zealand sustainably in order to combat future natural disasters?

Cyclone Gabrielle

Cyclone Gabrielle has devastated NZ, find out more about it and how to help!

The FRIENDS Resilience Program

This year, as part of Kristin's wellbeing framework, the FRIENDS Resilience Program will be trialled.

The Vending Machine Saving the Environment

In order to reduce plastic pollution and improve the ocean’s health, Frucor Suntory and the University of Otago have set up a reverse vending machine in NZ. The machine takes recyclable items, such as plastic bottles and, in return, gives students discount vouchers that can be used to purchase various drinks available on campus.

Middle School's Powhiri for New Students and Staff

Kristin embarked this year with a Powhiri to welcome new Middle School Students and Staff to our Kristin Whānau. It was a spiritual time as our Middle School gathered around the pae-pae to celebrate the unification of our Kristin community.

Kristin Gains GreenGold Status

Today we reached the level of a GREEN GOLD Enviroschool !!! An amazing effort and achievement for so many - He waka eke noa!

Kristin School a 2022 Zero Waste Awards Runner-up

Kristin School got a special mention at this year’s Tāmaki Makaurau Zero Waste Awards evening on Thursday 3 November 2022.

Summer Carnival Waste Reduction

For the first time ever, compost bins were availible at the Summer Carnival...