Peer-reviewed research2017–2026 update
Te Puna Taiao: How can our outdoor spaces provide meaningful interactions for tamariki and communities?
Five communities share what they learned while redesigning and using their educational spaces differently to build the wellbeing of students and the wider communities they serve.
What's new
This article draws on Indigenous histories, traditional ways of living, and understandings of living in balance with land, water and sky. It argues that educational settings can be reimagined to better use outdoor spaces and build the wellbeing of tamariki and their whānau. It shares learnings from five communities that set out to redesign and use their educational spaces differently, aiming for improved wellbeing for students and the wider communities they serve. The abstract does not describe the research method or specific findings.
Why it matters in Aotearoa
The article grounds the use of educational spaces, including outdoor spaces, in Indigenous understandings of wellbeing. It also looks beyond students to the whānau and communities the school serves.
Putting it into practice
Involve tamariki, whānau and the wider community when reviewing how school or centre outdoor spaces are designed and used.
How strong is the evidence
The abstract does not state the method or article type, so it is best read as shared experience from five communities.
What to read
The full article, for the five communities' learnings.