South Auckland tamariki are learning the importance of sustainable agriculture, environmental stewardship, and community engagement in outdoor classrooms introduced to their schools by Oke.
Oke Charity Founder Paul Dickson is on a mission to cultivate a love for learning and healthy living in children by building outdoor classrooms throughout Aotearoa.
“We strive to create safe and nurturing outdoor spaces where children can connect with nature, develop life skills, and build meaningful relationships with their peers.”
Established in 2016, the organisation has three full-time staff and is based in Papatoetoe. Most of the 70 schools it works with are in South Auckland, though it has also helped schools in Northland, Waikato, Canterbury and Otago.
Through its Growing A Future programme, Oke delivers an outdoor classroom to each school it partners with. The garden is built through a community working bee (in just one day) and includes all that is required to make it sustainable; raised beds, greenhouse, composting solutions, kids’ tools, teacher tools, irrigation, and fruit trees and plants. Each Growing a Future project for a school is worth over $25,000
“Today’s children are growing up in a world where conversations about climate change and environmental crises loom large. Many of our kids feel the weight of responsibility on their shoulders, a pressure far too big for such young hearts.”
Oke’s outdoor classrooms introduce children to environmental stewardship not by adding to their worries, but by inviting them to engage with nature in a hands-on, joyful way. Kids dig their hands into the soil, plant seeds, and watch as their tiny efforts yield growth, bringing life to the earth around them.
“Incorporating Māori values like kaitiakitanga (guardianship) connects them to traditional ways of living harmoniously with the land. They’re not just learning about sustainability; they’re experiencing it in real time, guided by the wisdom that’s deeply rooted in Aotearoa’s indigenous culture. Kids begin to see themselves as guardians, or kaitiaki, of their communities, learning respect for nature and understanding their role in protecting it,” Paul says.
It’s a project Wiri Licensing Trust (WLT) is passionate about supporting.
“The Oke Charity received funding for its first official van in 2021 via Trillian Trust, thanks to the backing of the Wiri Licensing Trust, and it marked a major milestone. Our green van quickly became the beating heart of Oke’s operations, carting tools, trees, raised beds, and team spirit to schools all over Auckland and beyond,” says Paul.
Since hitting the road, the van has supported the build of more than 50 outdoor classrooms, bringing Oke’s total to nearly 70 schools. It’s been there for the early starts, the sausage sizzles, and the muddy working bees, connecting kids to nature, learning, and their wider community. For many tamariki, this van has delivered more than equipment, it’s delivered opportunity.
But the Trust’s impact didn’t stop there.
In 2022, WLT once again threw its support behind Oke, this time for a truly epic project at Manurewa East Primary School. On a wild, rain-soaked day, Oke and an army of volunteers (including WLT board members) came together to build not one, but two incredible outdoor learning spaces: a cultural outdoor classroom and a sensory garden for the school’s Rosehill Satellite class.
“The support from WLT helped us scale up and serve more schools than ever before. That van? It’s like our Batmobile. And that day at Manurewa East? It proved what’s possible when people genuinely back their community. We couldn’t have done it without the Trust’s belief in what we’re trying to achieve.”
Trust General Manager Kim Green says it’s a privilege to support a project that empowers local children to become confident, resilient, and better equipped to make a positive impact in their communities and the world.
“It’s incredible to see so many students gaining access to an outdoor classroom where they can grow their own food, explore new interests and discover how meaningful change starts with their actions. With the tools they get from Oke, these children are learning essential life and social skills.”
Paul says that without the support of amazing partners, suppliers and funders, Oke wouldn’t exist.
“We work hard all year to raise enough funds so our ‘Growing a Future’ gardens are a minimal cost to the schools.
“From wheels on the ground to boots in the mud, Wiri Licensing Trust continues to empower grassroots initiatives that have lasting impact quietly. Thanks to their support, thousands of tamariki have access to spaces where they can grow, learn, and thrive.”
Wiri Licensing Trust wants to connect with local community groups and organisations that are doing great work in our hood to understand how we can better support you – email us at info@wiritrust.org.nz.
