Rainwater tank gifted to local school

A letter from a year six student to Council has seen a local primary school gifted a rainwater tank by the mayor.

Vienna Seabright, aged 11 years old, penned a letter to Waipā District Council in November last year requesting sponsorship for a 310-litre rainwater tank for Te Awamutu Primary School to help it collect water for its gardens.

Waipā mayor Jim Mylchreest this morning presented the tank along with a certificate and letter to Vienna for showing great initiative.

“We were delighted to receive that letter. Young people like Vienna are our future and it’s important for us to show her and her peers that when you put yourself out there and go for what you want, it can have great results.”

The youngster was inspired to write the letter after attending a rainwater harvesting course run by environmental organisation Go Eco and sponsored by Council to teach residents how to harvest rainwater in their backyards for outdoor water use.

Four sessions were run over the course of a month and attended by 21 residents. They were part of the subregional Smart Water campaign which aims to make a long-term change to how we use water.

Mayor Mylchreest said it was fantastic to see young people taking an interest in key issues facing the district.

“With climate change an ever growing issue, it is vital that we care for our most precious resource and that starts with teaching our young people how to protect and conserve water.”

Te Awamutu Primary School principal Sharon Griffiths said the school was grateful to Vienna who, although homeschooled, is a member of the school’s environment group.

“Vienna and her mother Wendy have always been huge advocates for the environment and our school.

“We are very appreciative of her kind heart and that she took the opportunity to nominate Te Awamutu Primary School for the rainwater tank. It will be put to good use so we are grateful to everyone involved.”

The cost of the tank has been jointly funded by Council and Designer Tanks.