Trades Programmes
Whenua Iti Outdoors in conjunction with Top of the South (TOTSTA) and West Coast (WCTA) Trades Academies deliver a range of programmes for Year 11 - 13 students.
Programmes are funded by the Ministry of Education, and are zero cost to students from TOTSTA and WCTA partner schools. Each course includes assessments that contribute to students' NCEA. These courses offer much more than academic credit, they are packed with experiential learning opportunities to build confidence, leadership & essential employability skills. Our Trades Academy programmes help set students up on a positive pathway to future employment or further study.
2025/26 PROGRAMME OPTIONS
Adventure Tourism
The leadership, personal and social development skills that are developed through challenging, outdoor experiences are well recognised. Our Adventure based courses offer opportunities to develop these important skills further and prepare you for a pathway to further study or employment.
Course Options:
Manaaki Tāpoi
Manaaki Tāpoi explores and celebrates the importance of Cultural Tourism within Aotearoa and builds a deeper understanding of Te Āo Māori. Travel to significant sites, including marae, learn mau rākau and build your reo. This is a unique programme option within Aotearoa New Zealand.
Course Options:
Environmental Sustainability
Build an understanding of NZ's biodiversity through field-based, environmental investigations, community projects and exploration. These programmes focus on developing practical skills for environmental investigations and management practices while exploring pathways beyond school.
Course Options:
Uniformed Services
Students will focus on search and rescue, emergency services and civil defence training in a variety of locations. These programmes provide students with the opportunity to explore a range of uniformed career pathways and develop essential emergency response skills.
Course Options:
Rangatahi Leadership Programmes
These shorter-term leadership programmes typically run in Term 4 and in school holidays providing fantastic opportunities for students to build skills that support future work or study while providing necessary Level 2 or Level 3 credits.
Adventure Leadership
Build on a love of the outdoors by learning technical and practical outdoor skills in a team environment while undertaking adventurous activities in our local wilderness areas. Participants have the opportunity of completing 5 Level 2 NCEA credits on this programme.
Ages: 16 - 18 yrs
Duration: 3 nights / 4 days
Earn L2 NCEA credits
Kaitiaki Leadership
Develop a deeper understanding of conservation and the skills needed for active biodiversity management. Head out on overnight expeditions, learn about conservation & biodiversity management and contribute to local conservation projects. You will come away with a deeper connection and understanding of te taio (the environment).
Ages: 16 - 18 yrs
Duration: 8 nights / 9 days
Earn L3 NCEA credits
Adventure Skills Development
Develop outdoor adventure skills while experiencing a variety of activities on group outdoor expeditions, with the added opportunity of completing 15 Level 3 NCEA credits. You will build trust, confidence and teamwork through a variety of awesome challenges!
Ages: 16 - 18 yrs
Duration: 8 nights / 9 days
Earn L3 NCEA credits
Qualified Instructors
You're in safe hands. Our friendly & highly professional instructors are all industry qualified for a wide range of activities.
NZQA Qualified and NCEA Aligned
We are NZQA accredited, can offer NCEA Level 1-3 assessments and all programmes align with the NZ Curriculum key competencies.
Safety Accredited
We put safety first. We are a registered provider of Adventure Activities with Worksafe NZ, and are Safety audit certified with OutdoorsMark.
Trades Academy Programmes
Uniformed Services (Level 2)
Find out first hand what it’s really like to be a paramedic, a police officer and a firefighter! Course Aim: To provide students with the opportunity to explore career pathways…
- Trades
Outdoor Emergency Response (Level 3)
This programme will equip students with practical skills in Risk Management and Emergency Response with a focus on the outdoors. Course Aim The Outdoor Emergency Response Level 3 programme provides…
- Trades
Manaaki Tāpoi Introduction (Level 2)
Course Aim The Manaaki Tāpoi course celebrates the importance of Cultural (indigenous) Tourism. Learning will focus on key elements of Māori culture and how they are interpreted in cultural tourism…
- Cultural
- Tourism
- Trades
Manaaki Tāpoi Extension (Level 3)
The Manaaki Tāpoi Extension programme will strengthen participant’s understanding both of the uniqueness of Māori culture as well as the interconnectedness of Te Ao Māori. The Manaaki Tāpoi Extension course…
- Cultural
- Tourism
- Trades
Manaaki Tāpoi Advanced (Level 3)
The Manaaki Tāpoi Advanced programme will strengthen participant’s understanding both of the uniqueness of Māori culture as well as the interconnectedness of Te Ao Māori. The course builds on the…
- Cultural
- Tourism
- Trades
Environmental Sustainability (Level 3)
If you enjoy being outside, being active and learning in a hands-on, practical way, then come and join our efforts to protect New Zealand’s unique biodiversity! This programme will focus…
- Environment
- Trades
Adventure Tourism Leadership (L3)
Take your existing outdoors skills to the next level. Build your confidence in outdoor leadership through this challenging and rewarding course. Course Aim Students will build on their existing outdoor…
- Adventure
- Tourism
- Trades
Adventure Tourism Leadership (L2)
Build on a love of the outdoors by learning technical and practical outdoor skills in a team environment. Course Aim The Adventure Tourism Leadership – Level 2 programme provides students…
- Adventure
- Tourism
- Trades
Our Secondary School Programmes
Read about all the programmes on offer to Secondary Schools including all Trades Academy programmes, Specialty Programmes and Holiday Programmes.
Benefits of Experiential Learning
The Trades Academy programmes focus on learning in a practical, hands-on environment. The true benefits of this style of learning lie beyond the immediate academic results.
Want to find out more about a programme or have a question for us? Talk to one of our friendly team - we're happy to help.