Student Projects
Explore student projects around the AUT campuses.
Student initiatives
Since its inception, a range of student projects have seemed from the AUT community garden initiative. The overall those of student projects is to create opportunities where students can contribute to leaving a legacy at AUT that may be built upon by future students.
Student initiatives
Since its inception, a range of student projects have seemed from the AUT community garden initiative. The overall those of student projects is to create opportunities where students can contribute to leaving a legacy at AUT that may be built upon by future students.
Sensory Garden Herbs
Where: AUT North Campus
When: 2023
Who: Karla, Anthony, Siyan and Winnie
The goal of this project was to upgrade the AUT Sensory Garden on the north campus.
We wanted to establish a warm and welcoming green area for students to potentially study and relax in. Additionally we added various herbs to the garden for students to pick and use at thier leisure to further promote the garden. We hope that the garden gets upgraded further with new pathways, sheltered seating and possibly a drinking fountain, things that we were not able to do due to time restraints and funding.
Traditional Māori Herbs
Where: AUT Akoranga Campus
When: 2023
Who: Olivia, Sophie and Hannah
We investigated Traditional Māori Herbs as part of our lifestyle nutrition project and we chose Kawakawa and Horopito to find more information on and include in our unique recipes. Kawakawa leaves have medicinal properties which are traditionally used to heal skin infections, cuts, eczema, as well as soothing stomach and tooth aches. Horopito leaves are great for anti-fungal and anti-septic treatment and can relieve diarrhoea symptoms. We made two recipes, a tea and a sauce, for each of the herbs and we found it was an interesting and hands-on way to get involved with the herbs and use creativity to produce recipes that can be used with ingredients in anyone’s home kitchen!
AUT South planting
Where: AUT South Campus
When: 2023
Who: Amy & Nora
Our project was planting a garden bed at AUT South Campus. We planted a range of vegetables including: Spring Onion, Bok Choy, Kale, Lettuce, Silverbeet, Chives and Rosemary. Throughout this process we learnt how to plan the garden bed for the produce, how to plant our vegetables, sustainable processes, maintaining skills and how to harvest our produce. This experience provided us an opportunity to learn about sustainable gardening and community gardens. Having a communnity garden allows students access to fresh and healthy produce which are nutrient rich. Having access encourages students to eat healthy and live a healthier lifestyle. We both agreed this process opened our eyes to how easy it is to set up a community garden and taught us many lessons while having a great time!
Pae Tahiti
Where: AUT Akoranga campus
When: 2023
Who: Romy, TAyla, Jayden & Sebastian
Our NSP group’ was the Pae Tawhiti - Journey Nutrition Planning. We created healthy and sustainable meals for students going on their 3-day outdoor journey. We tailored meals to the specific dietary requirements to people who were lactose-free, vegetarian, and gluten-free. We catered for 60 people and ensured there was minimal waste on this trip. We worked with Charlotte Jellyman to work out the meal plans and costs and amounts of each ingredient and purchased this in bulk.
Akoranga Raised Garden Beds
Where: AUT Akoranga campus
When: 2023
Who: Cade, Gaby
The Akoranga Campus Raised Garden Beds. A Place To Grow. Sustain. Connect. We encourage students to get involved in community gardening and welcome engagement with our North Campus garden beds. The garden is located just outside AJ block and behind the library. There are a variety of vegetables still growing in the beds which are free for anyone to pick and use!
A home planting experience
Where: Multiple locations
When: 2023
Who: Danielle, Michelle, Elisa and Oscar
This project increased our experiential and practical knowledge in home gardening and growing our own food. Each of us chose two or more herbs or vegetables to plant, grow, and harvest. We then used our produce to cook or make something we like to eat. We learnt that home gardening is not as hard as you think and anyone can do it! To help people get started, we recommend visiting a garden centre to ask for specific advice. Home gardening is a great way to save money, increase vegetable consumption, and is very rewarding.
Oke Charity
Where: Manukau, varied locations
When: 2023
Who: Vernel, Jarryd, Henry and Micheal
As participants of the AUT Lifestyle Nutrition paper, our group of four students actively engaged in Oke Charity's community service initiatives at Kingsford Primary in Mangere South Auckland. In addition to physically constructing the garden beds, we also played a significant role in the project's planning and logistical aspects in collaboration with Oke Charity. This experience has provided us with invaluable perspectives and served as a reminder of the importance of staying connected with the land, as well as understanding the historical foundations of food and agriculture through generations of practice. Despite the labour-intensive nature of building garden beds, the subsequent appreciation of the work undertaken has reinforced our belief in the significance of sustaining agriculture and promoting the cultivation of vegetation and plantations.
South Campus Planting
Where: South AUT Campus
When: 2023
Who: Amy and Nora
Our project was planting a garden bed at AUT South Campus. We planted a range of vegetables including: Spring Onion, Bok Choy, Kale, Lettuce, Silverbeet, Chives and Rosemary. Throughout this process we learnt how to plan the garden bed for the produce, how to plant our vegetables, sustainable processes, maintaining skills and how to harvest our produce. This experience provided us an opportunity to learn about sustainable gardening and community gardens. Having a communnity garden allows students access to fresh and healthy produce which are nutrient rich. Having access encourages students to eat healthy and live a healthier lifestyle. We both agreed this process opened our eyes to how easy it is to set up a community garden and taught us many lessons while having a great time!
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Matariki Mara
Where: AE Block, North Campus - Matariki Mara
When: 2022
Who: Lauren, Nelle, Anthony & Ryu
A1 cafe menu
Where: A1 cafe
When: 2023
Who: Lauren, Kendra, Brayden and Joshua
Our Nutrition Sustainability Project focused on designing a unique and captivating menu for the new A1 Cafe that is set to open in the near future. The importance of this was enabling a self-sufficient facility on campus that can support the cafe with fresh produce, and to advocate for healthier living. This relies on students and staff for maintenance as well as regular involvement with the gardens, to spark a recreational space on campus too. Hopefully A1 Cafe customers will see our recipes featured on the official cafe menu one day!
