Outward Bound looking for land in Coromandel for second school

Outward Bound's Anakiwa school in the Marlborough Sounds. Now it is looking for a North Island site and is concentrating its search on the Coromandel Peninsula.

The Outward Bound Trust is looking for land to open a second school for its outdoor education courses. It wants a North Island site with access to wilderness and high “natural character” within a three-hour drive of Auckland.

Outward Bound acting chief executive Simon Graney says the 60-year-old outdoor education trust has narrowed its search to the Coromandel peninsula for a site to complement its South Island school at Anakiwa, in the Marlborough Sounds.

“The site needs to be accessible by car and within a three-hour drive of the hub of Auckland. Opening a second school is part of our commitment to making our courses as accessible to as many New Zealanders as possible,” said Graney.

He says the Outward Bound team has been scouring the motu for a parcel of land no less than three hectares, with easy walking access into extensive bush areas of the Coromandel ranges. While access to sheltered seas would broaden the options for course activities, the organisation is keeping an open mind and, more critically, the site needs to be reasonably flat and protected from extreme weather events.

“Our utopia would be finding a site that offered direct bush and sea access but realistically we are also open to two nearby sites that may include, for example, a main base near the bush and then a satellite site with sea access.

“We have met with iwi groups, spoken to property agents and private landowners and looked at partnership options for properties. The process has helped define what we are looking for – we have narrowed our search to the western Coromandel peninsula. This area offers good access by road or sea to people who want an Outward Bound experience closer to home, whether they live in Auckland or the central and upper North Island.”

Outward Bound acting chief executive Simon Graney says the trust has narrowed its search for a North Island school site to the Coromandel peninsula. Photo / Supplied

Graney says Outward Bound is fortunate to have significant initial investment from long-term supporters the Dick and Diana Hubbard Foundation, Andrew and Jenny Smith, Thanksgiving Trust and other longstanding benefactors.

“We are now inviting other New Zealanders who share Outward Bound’s vision to help more rangatahi connect with the natural environment and have the opportunity to learn more about themselves and the community around them, to join us to make our second school a reality.

“Their gift would be an investment in the growth and development of today’s rangatahi while building an enduring legacy for future generations.”

He says Outward Bound will incorporate sustainable design principles into the new site, and the curriculum will include elements of Education for Sustainability.

“We’re committed to working closely with our new potential neighbours and the local community to contribute positively to future generations.

“Our second school will benefit the students who come through and the local community. We’ll bring employment opportunities for locals and the district will gain from the values-driven staff and families who come to deliver our programmes. We also aim to partner with local environmental organisations to create opportunities for our students to enhance the area through community service.”

Graney says the school hopes to ink an agreement on the new location this year.

The Anakiwa school will remain the heart of Outward Bound and become the organisation’s centre of excellence.

The Outward Bound Trust invites agents and landowners with a potential site to contact Simon Graney on 021 992 942 or sgraney@outwardbound.co.nz