Te Aweawenga |

Our Impact

Established in 2021, Kia Kotahi Ako (‘Learning As One’) is a charitable trust, activating education initiatives that will have the biggest impact for Papatūānuku (Mother Earth). Motivated by the climate crisis and an inequitable education system, Kia Kotahi Ako is an ambitious alliance of Edmund Hillary Fellows and communities to tackle these two challenges together.

Indigenous knowledge transforming education and environmental solutions from Aotearoa.

Te Moemoeā | Our Vision

Download the full Impact Report here

Ngā Whāinga Pākaha

Our Impact Goals

Ngā panonitanga e hiahiatia ana te kite i Aotearoa

The Change we want to see in Aotearoa

Indigenous voices inform our education and environmental solutions

Positive and bold action taken to tackle the climate and nature crisis

An equitable education system where students learn how to contribute to a better future

Ngā Whāinga Rautaki

Our Strategic Goals

Ngā ara e tutuki ai tēnei

How we are doing this

Championing Te Ao Māori initiatives

Weaving opportunities for system change

Accelerating education solutions for the environment

Here is a summary of the impact so far:

We Share Solar

Tōna paki | The story so far

  • We partnered with Orion NZ, the electricity distributor, so Ao Tawhiti students could learn about energy efficiency and solar from industry experts (read more and watch the students in action).

  • We were invited to share the solar suitcases at the tribal gathering for Ngāi Tahu, Hui-ā-iwi. The solar suitcases were re-assembled over 20 times by visitors and used to charge mobiles.

  • With our partner kura (school) in Taranaki, Te Pi'ipi'inga Kakano Mai I Rangiatea (TPKMIR) we won the Canon Oceania award for education and hosted their team to present Canon cameras so students can share their stories.

  • Newsroom filmed students at Homai school in South Auckland presenting their solar project “follow the sun, the adventures of Maui” and asking questions to solar experts, Helios (read more).

  • We have tested it so far with 97 students across a range of ages at a primary school, two high schools and one kura kaupapa Māori (watch the pilot video).

  • We adapted and piloted the successful US programme in a range of locations across Aotearoa New Zealand- Ōtautahi Christchurch, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and Taranaki.

We received great feedback from students, teachers and our partners, confirming the huge potential for this programme.

    • 95% students from the Homai primary pilot would like to do a similar project again.

    • 80% students from Haeata and Homai are now more interested in solar after this project.

    “It was definitely unique. I feel pretty honoured to be part of this project.”

    Student from Haeata School

    • 100% teachers involved would strongly recommend this programme to other teachers.

    • Teachers liked having resources and lesson plans they could just take and adapt.

    • Great support provided from Kia Kotahi Ako for the training and setup.

    “I have been teaching for 20 years and I don't think I have ever seen such a high level of student engagement. There are just so many benefits in terms of practical knowledge, climate change awareness, teaching them for careers, and giving them literacy support”.

    Science Teacher at Haeata School

  • “The advancement of the program in NZ is truly inspiring to us…students turning their new learning into advocacy and action… is the very best outcome any of us could hope to have”. 

    Gigi Goldman, We Share Solar Co-Founder 

    “I was super impressed with the Solar suitcase project and extremely interested to hear about the future plans”.

    Kim Conner, CEO Cannon New Zealand.

    “Thank you so much to everyone who worked so hard to make this a success. It really was such a delight to be able to participate and I am excited about what next year will bring!”. 

    Pip Newland, Head of Sustainability and Risk, Orion.

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He Pā Wānanga (A Learning Village)

  • We’ve supported behind the scenes as this amazing organisation, Nōku Te Ao, completed the first phase of the design brief and presented it to the Ministry of Education and wider community.

  • Nōku Te Ao formed an unprecedented agreement with the Ministry of Education to co-design and co-deliver this vision.

  • We’ve worked on fundraising strategy and materials and are excited by the relationships and excitement already building.

    Planning is well underway to identify the resources and supporters that will be needed over and above what “schools” are typically funded to do. The next part will include:

    • Integrating whānau, environmental and economic wellbeing into the village of learning.

    • Designing and building Māori community facilities for the wider community to access in the arts, sciences, sports, kapa haka, whānau enterprise and innovation.

    • Developing 10 hectares of gardens and urban farming to feed 1000 people a day.

    • Restoring wetlands and the health of the surrounding waterways.

    We can’t wait to share this amazing story and vision more widely this year.

    “...thank you for all your mahi and tautoko this year.” - Rangimarie Parata Takurua, Chair Te Pā o Rākaihautū.

“Tamaiti akona i te pā, ​Tū ki te ao, tau ana!” It takes a village to raise a child.

AimHi Earth

  • We coordinated and hosted two taster sessions in partnership with Auckland University Executive Education and the Edmund Hillary Fellowship springboard to test the interest for the climate and nature leadership course.

  • Participants loved the taster and would all recommend it, giving a net promoter score of 90!

  • There was great feedback and offers of support including:

    “Keep bringing “the light” to the issue. People want to know”

    “Great presentation! Clear and simple examples to truly understand the impact and importance of nature”

    “We are building relationships with businesses and funders to be the early adopters and

    champions of AimHi Earth programmes in Aotearoa”

  • Whilst listening to feedback so we can guide AimHi Earth in their design of climate courses.

  • We deepened our partnership with AimHi Earth, building a collaboration based on reciprocity rather than being transactional.

“...I feel so grateful that you respect and trust us enough to know that you can rely on us to give back, not because we feel we have to, but because we want to. Thank you for building the future we need. And thank you for teaching me that it's possible”

Matthew Shribmam, Co-Founder AimHi Earth

He raranga i ngā painga ki te panoni pūnaha ture

Weaving opportunities for policy system change

Ko tā mātou whāinga rautaki tuatoru | Our third strategic goal

  • We are leveraging the Edmund Hillary Fellowship impact and policy change. We have over 18 Fellows involved as funders, project champions and staff. We co-led two events for over 100 Fellows and are co-leading Climate Action and Education group calls..

  • We’re helping to influence education policy change affecting Māori education opportunities through working with Nōku Te Ao and the Pā Wānanga (learning village).

  • We were thrilled to see education actions now included in the Emission Reduction Plan, after coordinated submissions to the draft plan.

“You are helping to weave together, not only the activities but also the life stories of Fellows: I am convinced many of the connections and ideas catalysed at these huis will have profound impact for the world. So we cannot thank you enough for your care, passion and commitment!”

“It is a joy...to see how Kia Kotahi Ako is thriving as such a beautiful demonstration of what can happen when Fellows come together. So much potential!!”

Rosalie Nelson, CEO, Edmund Hillary Fellowship 

Te ara whakamua | What we are doing next

We Share Solar- solar education 

  1. Co-design the Te Ao Māori expression of the programme with kura (schools) in Taranaki.

  2. Create a version of the solar suitcase in Aotearoa to reduce the cost of the programme.

  3. Plan the next phase of the We Share Solar rollout in Aotearoa including sustainable funding models.

AimHi Earth- business climate course

  1. Coordinate a climate networking event in Ōtautahi Christchurch and an online masterclass for businesses and funders in March and April. 

  2. Plan the next steps for rolling out AimHi Earth in Aotearoa to transform understanding of the climate and nature crisis.

Te Pā Wānanga- a learning village: 

  1. Create a film for funders to share the story and vision.

  2. Coordinate a network of funders to drive intergenerational change for Māori education, environment and health outcomes.

  3. Host a visit of Edmund Hillary Fellows to Te Pā Wānanga to showcase their vision and create a group of funders and champions.

Download the full Impact Report here

For a financial update, our annual return is available on the charity commission website.