Children at Otama Primary School in Southland have achieved an Enviro Schools Programme Green-Gold Award after 5 years of dedicated work. This is a great achievement as they are the first school in Southland to gain this award and one of approximately 20 others nationally to do so.

The school has adopted environmental outcomes throughout the school curriculum. This is reflected in the range of projects that the students have undertaken:

• restoration of their native forest
• reviewing waste from the school and establishing a worm farm
• stream monitoring and e-mapping of Otama Stream with development of a DVD, 
• planting of a riparian area on a local farmers property adjacent to Otama Stream, 
• assisting with planting of the Mataitai area adjacent to the Mataura River with Hokonui Runanga and Mataura School.

The school has received support from the NZ Landcare Trust over this period as well as strong community and parent support. The Enviro Schools programme is heavily supported by Environment Southland with other funding assistance from Southland District Council, Gore District Council, Mother Earth and the Community Trust of Southland.