PIPS, the passionate proponents of hands-on learning, are cultivating more than just greenery in their school gardens.

Nurturing a sense of community and environmental consciousness, PIPS – short for ‘People Plants in Schools’ – is inviting locals to join them for a special event that promises both entertainment and a chance to support their programme.

As part of a unique fundraiser, PIPS is hosting a movie night on Tuesday, October 10, featuring the powerful locally-made documentary ‘Taking Back Our Beach’.

It’s an evening where the magic of cinema meets the magic of gardening, all in the name of education and sustainability.

“We are holding the movie fundraiser to raise funds for the environmental project we will be running in 2024,” says PIPS manager Clare Rodgers. “And there will be a guest speaker afterwards from the movie to answer questions.”

Formed in 2017 by a group of Pāpāmoa and Mount Maunganui school parents, PIPS is a charitable trust that works with seven local schools – Tahatai Coast, Arataki, Mount Intermediate, St Thomas More, Omanu, Suzanne Aubert, and Te Manawa ō Pāpāmoa; with Golden Sands starting in 2024.

Winners of a 2023 Western Bay Community Sustainable Future Award, PIPS is passionate about demonstrating the principles of kaitiakitanga, running school gardens and environmental programmes for the schools.

“The programme teaches children about growing and maintaining gardens, their food system, how to grow their own food, and the local environment throughout their school journey.”

PIPS’ Mauao Regeneration Project moved into its second year with a seed collection day in 2022, followed by the planting of about 100 trees in the Mauao whanau ngahere – family forest – that the children had grown from seed the year prior.  

“This year Mount Maunganui Intermediate tamariki planted another 100 plants back onto the maunga.

“PIPS also works with Tauranga Moana Biosecurity Capital in maintaining sentinel gardens which provide early warning of invasive insect species and pathogens before they get into BOP orchards.  

A member of Bay Conservation Alliance to help strengthen their environmental support to local schools, PIPS receives funding from TECT, Lotteries, Bay Trust and TCC, enabling them to do their work.

“PIPS employs garden facilitators who work across the member schools, assisting volunteers and staff to run their school gardens and other environmentally-based, student-focussed projects within the school, gardening to organic principles and with respect for tikanga Māori.”

Clare says they’re looking for a major sponsor for the movie night as well as spot prizes.

The PIPS movie fundraiser, screening ‘Taking Back Our Beach’ is 6.15pm on Tuesday, October 10, at United Cinemas Bayfair. To book a ticket: www.pipsbop.org/events