Monthly Eco Kids sessions at Onewa Christian Community are giving children opportunities to explore God's creation through hands-on activities, creative projects, and outdoor adventures. Along the way, they're learning about the natural world, discovering practical ways to care for the environment, and growing as young kaitiaki of God's creation.

The Windsor Park Baptist Earth Team recently welcomed rangatahi for a native tree planting day at Centurion Reserve. Together they planted 207 native plants, learnt practical restoration skills, and prepared to share their knowledge with others during the church's upcoming Matariki Serve Day.

As part of World Vision's 40 Hour Challenge, the Good News Project 2026 gave young people from churches in Auckland and Christchurch a taste of hands-on conservation, discovering how caring for creation is one way to put their faith into action.

St Philip’s Anglican Church in St Heliers is living out the Fifth Mark of Mission through practical creation care. From composting and beach clean-ups to installing solar panels, the congregation is reducing its carbon footprint and generating renewable energy for the benefit of future generations.

Inspired by the Eco Church idea, tamariki at St Heliers Presbyterian journeyed through Advent by rebuilding a koru each week from river stones, flowers, shells and recycled treasures gathered from their homes and neighbourhoods. This hands-on ritual connected the Christmas story with the beauty of creation in Aotearoa, inviting teamwork, wonder and a deeper awareness of God’s presence among us.

Earlier this year, St Paul’s held a service of lament for creation – a moving experience of prayers, song, and symbolic action. Together, the congregation expressed sorrow for ecological loss, gratitude for what remains, and hope for renewal. Placing leaves at the foot of trees became an act of surrender and prayer, reminding us that God receives our grief and restores our hope. Communal lament, as St Paul’s demonstrated, is not just possible – it is essential. It forms us spiritually, sustains our action, and reminds us that caring for creation is part of loving what God loves.

Young people from churches in Christchurch and Auckland have come together through the Good News Project 2025 to restore local ecosystems and explore the links between faith, climate justice, and food insecurity as part of World Vision’s 40 Hour Challenge. Coordinated by A Rocha’s Eco Church team with support from conservation project partners, the project empowers youth to be good news for creation through hands-on conservation and gospel-inspired action.

In May, Sustainability Champions from the Anglican Diocese of Auckland gathered at St Mary’s by the Sea to reflect on climate grief and Christian hope with Andrew Shamy, and explore practical church responses to the climate crisis. The day included the Climate Fresk workshop and Eco Church action planner, inspiring connection and action across communities.

St Paul's Symonds Street is on a journey to reduce the number of disposable cups they use on Sundays. One Sunday parishioners were presented with a string of disposable cups that stretched about 30 meters in length to help create awareness about the amount of waste that was being generated by using disposable cups.

Onewa Christian Community in Birkenhead hosts Repair Cafés 3-4 times a year, in conjunction with Highbury House, the Birkenhead Community Centre.  They enjoy the camaraderie and great atmosphere when mixing with the public. Most of the volunteers come back time and time again. Repairs are free but a koha is accepted for the morning tea, the proceeds of which are given to De Paul House in Northcote.

Waitakere Salvation Army shares with us what took place during their Eco Church launch service in September during Season of Creation and how the church is tackling the issue of food waste as their first Eco Church initiative.

Situated on 15 acres of land held in a trust, Peacemakers is a tranquil space, with stunning stars on a clear night and birdsong at dawn. The three kaitiaki of the land Andrew, Susannah and Shannon have lived in intentional community here for 8 years and have recently been joined by Joshua. We all have a deep love for the land and follow the principles of permaculture. We are committed to planting natives and nurturing the orchard and food forest. Anyone is invited to join us for our volunteer days to experience the property.