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 I felt a real passion for the outdoors. When I first started working in the outdoor industry 25 years ago my goal was to pass on that passion to other people and that’s still true today.”
A recent social media post about Charlie’s milestone highlighted the incredible impact his effort has had on a wide variety of people,
“Congratulations on 25 years Charlie!! You’re such an amazing human to have working on these programmes and have made such an impact on many of the rangatahi that have attended them. Legend all round!! – Kayla
“You’re a legend Charlie! The students are lucky to be in your presence. Keep charging on – Adrienne
“Good one Charlie- having been on many outdoor experiences with you changing the way young people see themselves and their environment, I can vouch for your legend status. You have a lovely way of connecting and seeing the best. It’s always been a pleasure to work with you! – Maree
Over the years that passion has translated into thousands of hours on programme with young people across Te Tauihu. Whether guiding groups along remote coastlines, crossing rivers, or climbing toward alpine summits, Charlie has helped create the kind of moments that stay with people for a lifetime.
Whenua Iti itself holds a deeply personal place in Charlie’s life.
“WIO is a real place in the middle of my heart,” he says. “I’ve got a strong connection to the land. Both my kids have their placentas here. The people who work at WIO are really close to my heart. It’s a real family place.”
That sense of community has been one of the reasons Charlie has stayed with the organisation for so long. The relationships built over years of shared work outdoors have become just as important as the landscapes themselves, “One of the things that’s kept me in the outdoor industry is the good people you meet and hang out with,” he says. “It’s a great place to be and a neat bunch of folks.”
Charlie’s role at Whenua Iti is varied. Some days are spent guiding groups through outdoor experiences, while others involve behind the scenes work supporting the operational side of programmes, “There’s a real diversity in my job,” he explains. “Being out at the beach with a bunch of kids one day and working on the grounds here the next. Some days it’s about problem solving. Some days it’s about safety decisions. And a lot of it is about working with a great group of people.”
Over 25 years Charlie has seen the outdoor sector evolve. Gear has changed, communication technology has transformed the way trips operate, and participation in outdoor activities has grown: “We used to head out without any communication at all,” he recalls. “Maybe you’d take a mountain radio on a longer trip. These days you wouldn’t go without a phone.”
Despite these changes, Charlie believes some things have stayed the same.
“I don’t think young people have changed all that much. They still want connection. They still want to enjoy themselves and move forward. A lot of young people still need self confidence.”
Helping young people discover that confidence remains one of the most rewarding parts of the job: “It’s great seeing people walking up a mountainside, looking at a big summit and wondering if they’ll get there. Then they keep moving and before long that summit is within reach. That summit can be many things in life, but it’s powerful when people realise they’ve got the strength within them.”
Many of those young people go on to careers in the outdoor sector themselves, something Charlie finds particularly satisfying, “I can think of a lot of people who have picked up careers in the outdoors after a WIO programme. It’s fantastic to see their lights shining and their passion being passed on to others.”
Like any long career in the outdoors, there have been moments that reinforce the importance of careful judgement and responsibility, “I was once involved in a river crossing that went astray and I had to suppress a moment of panic,” he says. “It taught me that you need to think very carefully before putting people at risk. As an outdoor instructor your calls are always very conservative.”
Alongside these lessons have been many memorable highlights. Trips down the Clarence River, journeys through Nelson Lakes, and countless “bluebird days” shared with groups in the mountains, “Stopping at a tarn for a swim or reaching the top of a hill together. Those times are the best.”
Looking ahead, Charlie believes Whenua Iti’s future is bright: “I think WIO will become more of a global organisation than it is now. But it will still have the local community and the top of the South Island in its heart.”
As he reflects on reaching the 25 year milestone, Charlie remains characteristically humble, “I feel a little bit proud of myself for achieving this milestone actually,” he says. “I feel a bit on a pedestal with how WIO has acknowledged that time, and I’m thankful for that.”
And for those just starting out, his advice remains simple.
“Give things a go. Be prepared to get things wrong. Share other people’s learnings and keep trying. That’s how you make your world a little bit bigger.”
For everyone at Whenua Iti Outdoors, Charlie’s dedication over the past 25 years has helped shape the experiences of thousands of young people. His passion for the outdoors and belief in the potential of others continues to leave a lasting mark on the organisation and the wider outdoor community.