Nick Kingstone

The Youth Leadership Council (YLC) is now entering its second year as part of Whenua Iti Outdoors’ ongoing commitment to co-designing programmes that are relevant, inclusive, and empowering for rangatahi across Te Tauihu. Building on the strong foundations established during its inaugural year, the YLC continues to provide valuable youth voice and insight into the […]

We recently opened the Climbing Centre at Whenua Iti which has been generously supported by Tūpiki Trust, Tasman District Council and the Lotteries Commission (DIA). We’re now launching WIO ‘Summit Sessions’ which are a chance to experience indoor climbing in a supportive, professionally guided environment while not being on a WIO programme. Summit Sessions are no-cost,

This year marks a special milestone at Whenua Iti Outdoors. Tutor Charlie Martin has celebrated 25 years with the organisation, a quarter century spent helping young people discover confidence, resilience and a connection to the outdoors. For Charlie, the path into outdoor education began with a simple motivation. “I came to the outdoor industry because

Whenua Iti Outdoors enjoyed the opportunity to host Hon James Meager, Minister for Youth, for a visit to our grounds in Upper Moutere. Minister Meager spent the afternoon touring the property with our CEO, Mark Bruce-Miller. He then joined an energetic group of Waimea Intermediate students as they took part in an Adventure Based Learning activity designed to learn through challenge, teamwork and fun.  The visit was a rare opportunity

Whenua Iti Outdoors (WIO) has officially opened a new purpose-built climbing centre marking a major milestone in WIO’s 40th year of operation. The Climbing Centre has been developed to support growing demand for high quality outdoor climbing experiences across Whenua Iti programmes, while also laying the groundwork for greater community access in the future.  Article: The Press – Rock

Traveling to Aotearoa New Zealand is more than simply arriving in a new country. It is an invitation to slow down, connect deeply with place, people, and culture, and to experience learning through challenge, adventure, and reflection. This twelve day ExpedNZ programme is designed to do exactly that, blending outdoor exploration with cultural immersion and

Programme date: December 2025 Alongside the Amputee Society Top of the South we hosted the second edition of the ‘Stump & Limb Difference Camp’ which welcomed young people with limb difference from across Aotearoa for three days of connection, challenge and fun. Building on the success of last year, the camp continued to provide a

Our latest Adventure Skills Development (ASD) Level 3 programme brought together a group of keen young people for a full immersion outdoor experience across the wild and beautiful landscapes of Te Tauihu, the Top of the South Island. Over the course of the programme, participants pushed themselves physically and mentally, built practical outdoor skills and

We recently welcomed our second BCITO group to Whenua Iti Outdoors for a four-day programme designed specifically for Māori apprentices. BCITO were looking for an experience that blended outdoor learning with Kaupapa Māori delivery, tikanga, and mātauranga Māori. Our team co-developed a custom programme with BCITO called ‘Mana Whakatipu, Mana Tangata’. The programme drew on

Whenua Iti Outdoors (WIO) is proud to announce a new two-year sponsorship agreement with Port Nelson Limited (PNL), strengthening opportunities for young people across Te Tauihu (Top of the South Island)  The two-year partnership will see Port Nelson contribute $10,000 annually to support youth programmes delivered by Whenua Iti Outdoors. A key focus of the

Link: Have your say on the proposed changes We are deeply concerned by the Ministry of Education’s recent announcement that Outdoor Education will be removed from the senior school general subject list, reclassifying it solely as a limited vocational option to be developed by a future Service Industry Skills Body. Mark Bruce-Miller, CEO of Whenua

Whenua Iti Outdoors (WIO) has been engaged by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) to deliver the Enhanced Taskforce Green (ETFG) programme, managing two clean-up crews in Tasman’s flood recovery. The ETFG is a government-funded initiative supporting communities in the wake of major emergency events. This follows the recent record-breaking rainfall and severe flooding across the Nelson Tasman region

At Whenua Iti Outdoors, we believe in the power of experiential learning to not only create memorable experiences but also to build essential life and work skills. We recognise the importance of giving rangatahi opportunities to grow in environments that build resilience, self-awareness, and key life skills. Linked to the Ministry of Education’s Employability Skills

Whenua Iti Outdoors’ founder, Hazel Nash, was awarded the prestigious ‘Te Tohu Manu Kura – Supreme Award’ at the Recreation Aotearoa Te Whai Oranga Outdoors & Recreation Awards event held last night in Auckland.   The award recognises Hazel’s exceptional contribution to outdoor education, environmental stewardship, and her tireless advocacy for the wellbeing of rangatahi (youth)