*This story was first published in June 2017. It was one of our most popular stories for the year.*
At New Zealand's first bush school, kids make weapons to kill rabbits and learn to cook possums. There are no classrooms, homework or computers. Instead, the students decide how they spend their day.
"Here lunchtime is anytime, so you can do whatever you want," nine-year-old Jacob told Newshub while playing by a waterfall at the school.
The school has been running for one term and so far has eight students aged six to 14.
Students learn by connecting with nature and letting their interests direct their learning.
"Over time you're going to start reading again, but after being told to read and read and read, it sort of gets a bit annoying," Hamish, 14, says.
The school is based temporarily at a reserve in Clevedon, while owners await consent for a permanent setup that can accommodate 50 students near the Hunua Ranges.
There has been some opposition from neighbours at the school's permanent location, which has already been built.
"There's traffic concerns, noise concerns [and] preserving the nature of the local area, the rural feel and character of it," neighbour Alex Stuart says.
Someone has spray-painted "no school" along the road.
But school co-founder Joey Moncarz says the school will actually benefit the area.
"[The opposition] has really just been from a couple of neighbours who largely are afraid to come to us and talk to us."
At the school students can read books, but there are no maths, science or English classes, unless they ask to learn those subjects.
"They are learning to be confident; they are learning how to think... in an ecological way," Mr Moncarz says.
"They see that everything is connected and... see how their actions have an effect on the natural world, and not just on the natural world but people in other countries."
There are few rules, but there are boundaries around using knives and where the children can roam.
"Mainstream school is based on force - forcing the kids to do reading, forcing them to do maths and writing," Mr Moncarz says.
"That's why students don't like it; they don't want to do it."
The school is based on a similar model in the United States called Sudbury Valley School. But does this teaching method set students up for the real world?
"It's a myth of mainstream education that you need to go to school for 12 years and study maths and English," Mr Moncarz says.
"The fact is, and unschoolers, homeschoolers would also attest to [this], if you just wait for a child to be ready then they will get interested in a certain subject.
"If they see reading and writing as important, then they will learn reading and writing."
Parent Sarah Ryan says her six-year-old daughter is less stressed after attending the school.
"This is how all schools should go," she says.
"It just creates more independence of the child, more self-motivation, lets them grow organically at their own pace, rather than being forced into learning with a timeframe."
Some of the activities include attending a peacekeeping circle where kids can raise concerns, planting trees, learning to light fires, foraging, building huts, playing in the bush, swimming and reading.
The older students also attend a "warrior council" three times a week. During this time they contemplate, learn life skills like taking responsibility, and discuss current events.
The school is funded through tuition fees, sets out its own curriculum and is registered with the Ministry of Education.
However, it must pass a review by the Education Review Office by end of the year to continue operating.
Newshub.
