Cooke Howlison Toyota and Orokonui Ecosanctuary: Growing Future Environmental Leaders

Toyota: It’s as quintessentially Kiwi as learning to pop a manu, singing Crowded House songs in school assemblies, hunting for Huhu, and exploring our beautiful backyard. In 2024, this commitment to sustainability, mobility, and community remains unwavering. All the while, we seek new opportunities to support the next generation in discovering, protecting, and nurturing our local flora and fauna.

That is why we are proud to be collaborating with Orokonui Ecosanctuary - Te Korowai o Mihiwaka, on our Young Kiwi Project, to sow the seeds of environmental stewardship among rural school children. This educational fund aims to connect young minds with the wonders of our local flora and fauna and inspire them to become champions of the environment. 

The Young Kiwi Project facilitates access for rural schools across the region to Orokonui Ecosanctuary. Ensuring that students can experience firsthand the beauty and biodiversity of this natural haven. Alternatively, barriers to access are overcome by having the sanctuary’s education team visit these schools. Simply put, it’s our way of connecting rural schools with nature’s classroom.

Beyond inspiring young minds, we are committed to supporting Orokonui Ecosanctuary’s sustainability and accessibility. This includes providing access to low-emission vehicles to support school visits and crucial conservation efforts, such as the Kiwi creche. It doesn’t stop there either, as our team have been hands-on in our approach, starting with a recent tree-planting day at the sanctuary. 

To kick-start our fundraising efforts, we have committed to donating $50 from every 2024 Hilux Hybrid sold towards the establishment of this fund. We believe this is particularly significant for our rural customers as they are directly contributing to their community’s education enrichment. 

Looking ahead, our goal is to expand the programme further, reaching more schools and inspiring the next generation of environmental champions. If you’re interested in supporting the Young Kiwi Project or collaborating with us, please get in touch with our team to find out more.