Technology students team up with Maungakiekie Songbird to help restore native birdlife.

Students at Onehunga High School are preparing to make a meaningful contribution to their local environment, as they begin building birdhouses to support a community conservation project. 

Led by Mr Eastwood, Leader of Learning Area Technology and Construction School, students will be constructing nesting boxes for the Ruru (Morepork) in partnership with Maungakiekie Songbird. Maungakiekie Songbird is a community-driven initiative focused on restoring the natural habitat around Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill, with the aim of bringing native birdsong back to the area. 

Through education, pest control, and community involvement, the group works to create a safer environment for native wildlife. This project continues a strong connection between the school and the organisation. Last year, Onehunga High School students built Ruru nesting boxes, with their work featured on the Maungakiekie Songbird website. 

This year’s students will carry that work forward, using their construction skills in a real-world context while contributing to local biodiversity. The nesting boxes they build will provide safe habitats for Ruru, a native owl species that plays an important role in New Zealand’s ecosystem. The initiative also connects students with the wider community. 

Maungakiekie Songbird will be hosting its next handout event on Saturday 2 May 2026, from 10:30am to 12:00pm at One Tree Hill Domain (in front of Stardome). Families in the area are encouraged to attend and learn how they can support birdlife at home. This project gives students the opportunity to apply their skills in a practical setting while contributing to an important local initiative.