Promises help plant seeds for the future

Promise Tree winner Nikesh Bulsara from Baverstock Oaks Primary with Max the Monkey.

Recently more than 100 children committed to cultivating a clean, green future when the “OfficeMax Promise Tree” was unveiled at OfficeMax’s new environmentally sustainable head office in Highbrook Business Park.

Kevin Obern, OfficeMax managing director, said the idea behind the Promise Tree was to engage with selected Manukau City schools and get them to think about the small actions that they can take to help make big environmental changes.

“The Promise Tree initiative is part of our on-going commitment to environmental sustainability and our community. We wanted to create an idea that would inspire children to think about how we can all care for the environment we live in.”

Year five and six children from Baverstock Oaks, East Tamaki and Wakaaranga Primary School’s in Manukau were each given a paper leaf to design, decorate and declare their environmental promise on. The leaves were then placed on the Promise Tree to be displayed at OfficeMax’s head office and distribution centre.

Examples of promises made included “I promise to walk to school and home even if it rains”, “I promise to turn off all lights and water when I’m not using them” and “I promise to educate my family to recycle”.

“The passion these children have for our environment is amazing. It’s heartening to think these kids are our future and they already understand the impact they can have by being environmentally conscious,” added Mr Obern.

Nikesh Bulsara from Baverstock Oaks Primary, Sarah Palu from East Tamaki Primary and Kai Xin Gao from Wakaaranga Primary School were rewarded with a new green iPod for their motivating environmental promises.

Baverstock Oaks Primary won the overall Top School prize and were rewarded with a $500 OfficeMax voucher.