This year, Whenua Iti Outdoors (WIO) partnered with Parklands School to deliver a nine-week social skills programme designed to address the unique challenges facing their junior tamariki. The collaboration was born from Parklands’ recognition of a growing need to support students’ social, emotional, and motor skills through hands-on, values-driven learning in the outdoors. Andrea Smith, […]
Empowering Tamariki with Parklands School Read More »
At 75 years young, Hazel Nash continues to exemplify visionary leadership. Her legacy as the founder of Whenua Iti Outdoors (WIO) reflects a lifetime dedicated to empowering individuals and strengthening communities through outdoor education. It was a dream of self-sufficiency that motivated Hazel to move to a block of land in Lower Moutere. Shocked
In depth: Hazel Nash – A Visionary Leader Read More »
Last week, Whenua Iti Outdoors’ (WIO) Manaaki Tāpoi Level 3 students had a truly mīharo (wonderful) stay at Waikawa Marae! Over the course of two days, the group of rangatahi (aged 16-19) planted over 200 native seedlings around the marae and at Pete and Takutai Beech’s Waikawa Bach. These seedlings, provided by the Whenua Iti
Kaitiakitanga in action at Waikawa Read More »
Whenua Iti Outdoors’ recent Kaitiaki Leadership programme provided a unique opportunity for 11 students (aged 16 to 18) to develop essential leadership skills through nature connection and stewardship. Delivered in partnership with the Mōkihinui-Lyell Backcountry Trust and based at their Rough and Tumble Bush Lodge on the doorstep of the Kahurangi National Park, the nine-day,
Training Enviro Leaders on the West Coast Read More »
We had a fantastic day with Nelson’s Victory Primary School last week. Whenua Iti was a hive of activity with team building games, ropes action on the Flying Kiore, a drum stalk and more! Read on to hear about what the students experienced. On Wednesday we had the pleasure of hosting Victory Primary School’s Year
Adventure and fun for Victory Primary Read More »
For three years now, Whenua Iti has been running the Employment and Life Skills (ELS) programme with rangatahi from the West Coast. Run in partnership with the West Coast Trades Academy, this programme supports young people to build confidence and life skills for the next stages of life beyond school. Delivered over six short
Life Skills can be Life Changing Read More »
Whenua Iti’s Inspiring Leaders programme is an immersive and dynamic learning journey, bringing together Year 12 students from the Nelson/Tasman region. The programme is run each July and is designed to cultivate leadership through adventure and self-discovery. This year’s participants reflect on the empowering experience. Over four days and three nights, this year’s students were thrown
Inspiring Leaders: Unleashing Potential Read More »
In today’s increasingly digital world, where screens dominate our daily lives, the simple act of playing outside holds more significance than ever for children. Outdoor play isn’t just about fun and games—it’s a crucial aspect of childhood development that nurtures physical, social, and emotional wellbeing. At Whenua Iti Outdoors, we see this benefit every day
Unlocking the hidden power of Play Read More »
Our Environmental Sustainability students were instrumental to a local planting project in the Moutere Catchment. Students were involved in designing, planning, planting and sourcing seedlings that were grown in the Whenua Iti Community Nursery. A group of Year 12 and 13 students from Tasman and Marlborough have recently graduated from Whenua Iti Outdoors’ Environmental Sustainability
Local students learn environmental sustainability Read More »
As funding draws to a close, we are thrilled to share the success of our Kaimahi For Nature Connection (KFNC) project, made possible by the Jobs for Nature initiative from the Department of Conservation (DOC). The KFNC project ran for the last three years and supported a wide range of programmes at Whenua Iti Outdoors.
Celebrating our Kaimahi For Nature Connection project Read More »
LandSAR is a national volunteer organisation which provides land search and rescue assistance to the lost, missing and injured across New Zealand. With its natural philosophical and skills-based alignment to our outdoor activities, Whenua Iti Outdoors supports staff who volunteer for LandSAR. We interview instructor Rosey Joyce about why she volunteers for LandSAR. Instructor Rosey
Supporting staff to support LandSAR Read More »
The Manaaki Tāpoi programme, our Māori tourism course, strengthens participants’ understanding of Māori culture and the interconnectedness of Te Ao Māori. Delivered in partnership with the Top of the South and West Coast Trades Academies, this programme gives students the opportunity to achieve NCEA Level 2 and 3 credits and develop crucial personal and social
Manaaki Tāpoi – the programme that changes lives Read More »
We celebrate the success of a recent professional pathway project; training safe, high-functioning, respectful and culturally aware new instructors.
Fostering Futures through instructor training pathways Read More »
Nature is a powerful leveller and in an age of digital distractions we believe it is also an antidote to the addictive behaviour that devices bring out in our youth. Our preliminary research shows that most of our participants value the social and health benefits that being phone free in outdoor environments provide.
The benefits of phone-free outdoor experiences Read More »
This year’s graduates of the three-year Ignite programme celebrate the journey with a week of adventures on the West Coast. Participants and instructors reflect on the boost in confidence this programme has provided. Congratulations to Alexander Lightfoot, Alexander Lock, Cyris Aldworth, George Emery, Jake Barnett, Jakib Hedges, Ken Takahashi, Lukas McEnroe, Sonny Campbell, Temaru Teaukura,
Celebrating our Ignite Graduates! Read More »
