“Ka ora te whenua, ka ora te tangata” — When the land is well, the people will be well. This whakataukī resonated throughout Ngā Ara ki te Taiao, a four-day wānanga hosted by Whenua Iti Outdoors in Motueka this July. Despite the downpour and flood warnings, the wānanga brought together passionate kaimahi from across Aotearoa’s
Ngā Ara ki te Taiao Wānanga: Deepening Connection, Strengthening Practice Read More »
Insights from the Environmental Sustainability Programme at Whenua Iti Outdoors. First published in Education Outdoors New Zealand’s Spring 2024 issue of Te Whakatika: The Aotearoa New Zealand Professional Practice Journal for Outdoor and Environmental Learning. At Whenua Iti Outdoors (WIO), Rosey Joyce (Bachelor of Sustainability and Outdoor Education), the lead instructor for the Environmental Sustainability
Nurturing a love of nature Read More »
A highlight for students on the Environmental Sustainability Trades Programme, was to discover a healthy Powelliphanta snail in a flood-damaged part of the Te Hoiere/Pelorus River Catchment, where it was thought they wouldn’t have survived. Students spent the first week of this programme in the Te Hoiere/Pelorus River area to build an understanding of kaitiakitanga
Unexpected Powelliphanta Find Post Flooding Read More »
A partnership with Sport New Zealand | Ihi Aotearoa and the Halberg Foundation has helped us to remove barriers for disabled tamariki and rangatahi to experience outdoor recreation at Whenua Iti Outdoors. Hearing that tamariki and rangatahi in our rohe (region) are missing out on experiences with us always sparks a desire to find a
Our journey in creating inclusive outdoor experiences Read More »
Mike Elkington (Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Kuia, Ngāti Toa Rangatira) was the recipient of the Supreme Te Tohu Manu Kura Outdoor Award at the 2022 Recreation Aotearoa Awards held in Nelson. The Award was in recognition of his mana in the outdoor sector, and for outstanding leadership in outdoor recreation. Known affectionately as ‘Matua Mike’ to
Matua Mike Takes Top Honours at Recreation Awards Read More »
Whenua Iti have recently run the first Tamariki Tiaki Nature Connection Programmes for Westport North, Westport South & St Canice’s Schools The programmes are designed to connect tamariki to environmental sites of local significance by focusing on nature connection experiences that are fun and engaging for the students, but also align with the school curriculum
Kaimahi for Nature Connection Project reaches Te Tai Poutini tamariki Read More »
Whenua Iti Outdoors (WIO) are expanding their range of programmes delivered on the West Coast to further support rangatahi, tamariki and the wider community of Te Tai Poutini. “We have been working alongside other youth support organisations on the West Coast to look for opportunities to be involved where it’s needed most,” says Mark Bruce-Miller,
Whenua Iti Take New Programmes to Te Tai Poutini Read More »
This year, students on the Ignite Programme graduated the 3-year programme following a final week of awesome adventures based at Te Tai Poutini (West Coast). This final trip helped to cement their learning and development and proved to the instructors just how much the boys have improved across the course of the programme. The 10
Ignite Students Hit the West Coast Read More »
Being in nature fills up my cup and I do it as much as I can, especially over the summer holidays! Dana Carter works at Whenua Iti Outdoors as the Kaimaihi for Nature Connection Lead and shares a few insights as to how to make the most of our time in nature this summer: I
Connecting with Nature this Summer Read More »
It was a magnificent occasion on site at Whenua Iti to celebrate our 35th Birthday. At the centre of all the celebrations, as she should be, was Hazel Nash, still as vibrant and dynamic as when she first sparked the idea of Whenua Iti in the mid-80s. The evening kicked off with a mihimihi, lead
Whenua Iti Outdoors Celebrates 35th Year Read More »
The first graduates of the MHS Ignite Youth Development Programme were recently celebrated when they arrived back at the Whenua Iti base from their final journey. Each year, a group of Year 9 students are selected to join this Programme, during which they will participate in a total of six weeks of wilderness-based and adventurous
Leadership Ignited in Youth thanks to a Generous Donor Read More »
Young participants (aged 7-12yrs) who took part in Whenua Iti Outdoors (WIO) holiday programmes had a beautiful afternoon planting trees with Rotary Club members at Rough Island on the Waimeha /Waimea Inlet. The planting contributed to the work of the Waimea Inlet Restoration Group, who have been funded by Jobs for Nature to bring back
Planting brings generations together at Waimeha/Waimea Inlet Read More »
The nature connection programmes run so far this year at Whenua Iti have connected almost 1,000 tamariki with outdoor experiences to develop a love of nature that supports their learning, wellbeing & sense of belonging. A highlight for local primary schools has been the Mini Outdoor & Environmental Adventurers Programmes that are offered to the
Nature Connection activities well received by schools & tamariki Read More »
Students on the Civil Defence Emergency Response (CDER) Programme with Whenua Iti Outdoors have just had an amazing experience on Te Tai Poutini/West Coast where they have spent the week connecting in with volunteers, LandSAR & Buller Civil Defence to learn first-hand about the huge coordinated response that is underway to the devastating flooding that
Civil Defence Students Get Involved on the Flood-Hit Coast. Read More »
It was great to see such a wonderful response to our Nature Connection seminar last week with over 60 people coming together to learn from Steve Porteous of Human Bushcraft and Wild Living about simple ways in which to establish nature connection with their students and in their own lives. Teachers, parents and local community organisations including Tasman
Nature Connection Seminar Well Attended Read More »
We had an amazing four days from 6 – 9th April for Te Kupenga Rangatahi Wānanga 2021, as rangatahi from our Manaaki Tāpoi programme were inspired to continue their journey in Te Ao Māori through workshops, inspiring speakers, collaborative art and collective performance. The idea for the wānanga was conceived, developed and then coordinated by
Inaugural Wānanga for Youth at WIO Read More »
Whenua Iti Outdoors have just had the busiest summer holiday ever, with a total of 137 children through on 11 different holiday programmes that catered for ages from 7 right through to 18, all with a focus on adventure-based activities that provide positive learning experiences in the outdoors. The same experienced staff who deliver our core education programmes throughout the school
Adventure Holiday Programmes Sought After Read More »
Tamariki had a blast during the Tasman Mission event held on site at Whenua Iti Outdoors. Primary Schools from around the district arrived on a sunny Friday morning to take part in a fun event organised by the Tasman District Council that coordinated various ‘stations’ where teams faced fun environmentally-themed challenges to tackle together. This is the second time the
Tasman Mission a Hit! Read More »
Get Outdoors Week runs from 14th – 22nd November, and to celebrate getting outdoors, Whenua Iti are giving away a Macpac pack for your next adventure. From the 14th of November we will be hiding 3 caches around some of our favourite outdoors spots in the Motueka area that can be accessed by families so
Win a prize with WIO during Get Outdoors Week! Read More »
WIO are thrilled to be among the finalists in the NZ Sustainable Business Awards! Whenua Iti have been named as finalists in 2 categories. The Social Impactor Category, which recognises businesses that bring about positive change for their environment & communities; and a new award for Resilience in Crisis that acknowledges the ability for businesses to pivot in
WIO Finalists in Sustainable Business Awards Read More »
Next time you visit Whenua Iti there’s a new Obstacle Course to tackle! We are excited to have our new Obstacle Course open for action. With thanks to funding from the Tasman District Council and the generosity of locals who donated materials for construction, we now have a fantastic course for programme participants to tackle
New Obstacle Course at Whenua Iti! Read More »
Our future leaders were brought together in the school holidays from across Nelson and Tasman to attend an Inspiring Leaders programme at Whenua Iti Outdoors. This was the first time the programme has been run, thanks to the funding from Tasman District & Nelson Councils who gave Year 12 students from around the region the opportunity to develop their leadership skills. The students were identified by their schools as having the potential to
Inspiring Future Leaders at WIO Read More »
Whenua Iti Outdoors has designed the new ‘Predator Control & Conservation’ programme for secondary students to teach the importance of biodiversity management in which students will get to participate in practical, field-based community conservation projects. The first Predator Control & Conservation Programme is set to kick off in Term 3 as part of the funded Trades Academy
Biodiversity the Focus of New Programme at WIO Read More »
During our time of lockdown, most of you will be finding it a bit harder to do the things you would normally do to take care of yourself. I know that for most of the team at Whenua Iti Outdoors (WIO), that is most certainly true, given our love of the outdoors! But there are still lots
WIO Ways to Wellbeing Read More »
> View all the Go Wild at Home Challenges Friday’s Challenge: Knot Skills Learn how to tie some knots for using in the outdoors, or around home too. Have fun with this – it’s your last challenge for the week!To register and send your photos please email [email protected]. We look forward to seeing the photos!
Shantel Thilman fell in love with New Zealand when she first came here 10 years ago. Now she has returned to ride the length of our country as part of Tour Aotearoa 2020 and avoid winter back home in Oregon! As part of her best winter-avoidance tactic yet, Shantel is aiming to raise money along
The Ultimate Bike Ride to raise $ for WIO Read More »
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is not hugely spoken about in Te Tau Ihu (the top of the South Island), which is a little baffling given how well known the Award is further north, and around the world for that matter. This is something we are keen to change, given how many young people
What’s this Award all about? Read More »
Kia Ora Whānau Joni Here. I’m back again with my yearly blog post! You may remember that I wrote a blog about ‘The things that I’ve learnt from students as an instructor’ where I reflected on the work of 2018. I wrote about how lucky I was to help facilitate growth in our amazing young
Top 5 Things I’ve Learnt From My Students (v.2) Read More »
It’s fair to say we were a little bit chuffed to be the recipients of the Nelson Tasman Chamber of Commerce Mediaworks NZ Medium Business Award for 2019. As a charitable trust in the field of education, we are not often perceived as a ‘business’, yet we need to run effectively as one to achieve positive change in
WIO win Business Award Read More »
I have been privileged enough over the last three years to have graduated from the Manaaki Tāpoi Level 2, Level 3, and Level 3 Extension programmes. The Mānaaki Tāpoi programme is a 4-week block course run by Whenua Iti Outdoors for senior kura tuarua students from Te Tai o Poutini and Te Tau Ihu o
My Manaaki Tāpoi Journey – A Student’s Voice Read More »
