Launched in September as a pilot programme, The Wednesday Challenge, Te Wero ia Wenerei encourages students to opt for better travel modes, getting to and from school. Six weeks in, the Challenge is already getting some solid outcomes.
Run by the Tairāwhiti Environment Centre, Project Director Harley Dibble says from data collected during October the eight participating schools have managed to shift the dial on travel habits.
“It’s amazing really, despite all the challenges we have had in Tairāwhiti this year thanks to mother nature, through this pilot we have been able to engage with schools and drive car usage down, whilst increasing the number of students who are walking, biking, scootering, busing or carpooling to school.”
The October stats reflect an 11% decrease in the use of cars and a 22.5% increase in walking 14% increase in bus usage. Other modes like carpooling and scootering have also shown increases.
“Considering some of our schools are in more remote places, that’s a great outcome and we look forward to seeing the stats continue to reflect growth in more environmentally friendly travel modes.” Says Harley.
The Challenge is supported by by Hoe ki angitū – the Waka Kotahi Innovation Fund, set up to develop and accelerate innovative solutions that will help to solve some of our big transport challenges. Waka Kotahi Future Transport Manager Lee McKenzie says
“We know that reducing our car use, particularly for shorter trips like school drop offs, has a huge positive impact on our environment.
By supporting tamariki and whānau to use their cars less we can make a real change both toward our climate, and the health and wellbeing of our communities.
The Wednesday Challenge is a great example of how we can use innovative solutions, even at a community level, to tackle big challenges.
Wainui Beach School, Kaiti School, Gisborne Central School, Te Wharau School, Cobham School, Ilminster Intermediate, Gisborne Girls High School and Gisborne Boys High School are all participating, with other schools looking to join.
Harley says there’s a host of benefits that come with the initiative, from environmental to health and well-being.
“Schools that take part log their students’ journeys each Wednesday and if the students opt for good modes, they will earn points for their school and the chance to share in a prize pool of funding for the winning schools to spend on resources of their choice. We appreciate we are asking students, parents and whānau to have a go at changing their routines. So, we are rewarding them as part of the Challenge.”
Whilst the lure of rewards and prizes works to motivate students, feedback received by the programme, from participating schools, shows the impetus to do the Challenge is far greater.
Kaiti School Principal Billie-Jean Potaka says “It’s not about the prizes, it’s not about the points, it’s about making a change for ourselves and our Taiao! We have heard that many of students have gone home and talked about te wero, developed a plan with whanau and are now participating. One class even had a 100% turnaround in the first week, from all getting rides to all walking, biking or scootering, which is awesome.”
Wainui Beach School Deputy Principal Mike Hope says they’re seeing tangible evidence of the effects of the Challenge. “We have been tracking the number of students using the pedestrian crossing in the mornings and we have observed that the numbers have doubled.”
Keeping tamariki and rangatahi safe while they explore different travel modes to and from school is a key part of the Challenge and it’s one the schools’ are collaboratively embracing. Te Wero ia Wenerei Te Wharau School Champion Jamie Kelly says “Our tamariki are really enjoying the challenge and all staff are on board helping with drop spots to keep our tamariki safe.”
The pilot programme runs until the end of November and Harley says the opportunities beyond that are exciting. “We feel like we are already demonstrating the potential of Te Wero ia Wenerei through this pilot. It is our hope that, as a consequence, we will have the opportunity to roll out a full year of the programme next year and have even more schools taking part. We also have Gisborne Chamber of Commerce keen to see the future expansion of the Challenge into the business community, like they have done in Tauranga”
Tairāwhiti Environment Centre has been an environmental advocate in the region since 1990, focussing on education, waste minimisation and biodiversity. In more recent years it has established itself as an umbrella organisation for multiple conservation projects.
“The challenge aligns well with the centre’s priorities and is an exciting addition,” says Harley. “On the ground in Tairawhiti we are running the pilot as a collaborative programme with the support of Rau Tipu Rau Ora, Tairāwhiti Enviroschools, Gisborne District Council, Go Bus, Sport Gisborne and Healthy Families East Cape.”
Te Wero ia Wenerei Schools’ Project Manager Sarah Somerton says the pilot has created a unique opportunity for the region.
“It is allowing us to roll out a community initiative that we may not have otherwise been able to fund. It provides an opportunity to look at the needs of rural and isolated communities, communities that face barriers to participation, and to deliver a project that is reflective of and responsive to Tairāwhiti. We are immensely grateful to Waka Kotahi for that.”
Te Wero ia Wenerei is Tairawhiti’s localised roll out of the Wednesday Challenge which was first launched in Tauranga during 2022 as a pilot programme with other towns and cities across New Zealand now keen to explore the programme for their community.
