Congratulations to Ripeka Pennicott-Sciascia, our January Tidy Kiwi Volunteer of the Month

Congratulations to our January 2024 Tidy Kiwi Volunteer of the Month, Ripeka Pennicott-Sciascia of Southland.

Here’s proof that it’s never too young to get young children active in the community! Little Ripeka attends Te Kōhaka Reo O Murihiku in Invercargill, and has been learning about guardianship at her Kōhaka Reo.

Kōhaka Reo are early learning centres that cater towards mokopuna (young children) in a Māori cultural and whanau environment. The tamariki were guided by their kaiako (teachers) to participate in Clean Up Week last year to learn about Kaitiakitanga (guardianship) of the Papatūānuku — the mother land which gives life to all things including our beautiful environment and people.

Little Ripeka, alongside her friends and whanau as well as her kaiako, are encouraged to take care of our whenua and protect Papatūānuku by keeping her clean and tidy. Even as a youngster, she collects litter anywhere she goes, tells her classmates to follow her and shows them how it’s done! She believes that it’s her duty to put rubbish where it belongs, or don’t create it in the first place. Ka pai!

Aroha atu, aroha mai — give love and you’ll receive it back, especially when taking care of nature 

Ka pai! As our Tidy Kiwi Volunteer of the Month, Ripeka will receive a Keep New Zealand Beautiful merchandise pack as well as a Resene paint voucher, for beautification projects or for fixing up any local graffiti she comes across.

We’re always on the look out for Tidy Kiwis, so if you know an ākonga (student) who is going above and beyond for the environment or is doing great things in their community, nominate them to be our Tidy Kiwi Volunteer of the Month here.