Whenua Iti Outdoors is deeply concerned by the Ministry of Education’s proposal to remove Outdoor Education 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 Iti Outdoors, warns that this decision risks dismantling decades of progress in outdoor learning,
“This proposal threatens the existence of Outdoor Education in many schools and Private Training Establishments across New Zealand. It directly undermines pathways into our sector, whilst further disengaging students who thrive in outdoor learning environments.
“It would be a sad day for Aotearoa New Zealand if something as quintessentially part of what it means to be a Kiwi was removed from the education system,” he said.
Whenua Iti’s own research backs up the importance of Outdoor Education for students. Their post-course survey had overwhelmingly positive responses linked to the Government’s own “Employability Skills”, developed by the Ministry of Education and published on careers.govt.nz. Over 80% of the 650 school aged respondents in 2024 said that Whenua Iti’s Outdoor Education programmes helped them develop the seven core skills that MoE say future employers are looking for.
“Things like attitude, communication, resilience and decision making are fundamental core skills that employers want, MoE’s seven categories are very clear about that. We can draw a direct link to developing those skills through Outdoor Education, often in a very short time frame,” Bruce-Miller said.
Whenua Iti Outdoors, one of the largest providers of outdoor learning experiences in Aotearoa, stresses that the implications of the proposed changes extend well beyond the Outdoor Education sector itself.
“Outdoor Education has long been a gateway for careers in tourism, recreation, environmental management, and adventure guiding,” Bruce-Miller said.
“As a youth development PTE and large employer of outdoor instructors, I know first-hand why this matters. Outdoor Education is not a ‘nice to have’ it’s a proven way to enhance youth wellbeing, build employability skills, and grow future leaders who are connected to our environment and communities.
“We also need to consider the disconnection of students to te taiao (the natural world). Outdoor Education fosters a deep relationship with New Zealand’s environment. Without it, fewer young people will connect with and care for the places that define our identity as a nation.
“The rapid advancement of Ai means that interpersonal skills will be increasingly valuable in the future. We need to retain what makes us human. Reconnecting with each other through face-to-face connections while exploring the outdoors is one of the most powerful experiences we can provide our rangatahi. With youth mental health challenges at record levels, it would be a serious misstep to remove one of the most proven, holistic, and transformative subjects from the curriculum. At a time when students are spending more hours on screens, Outdoor Education offers vital balance, time in fresh air, genuine social connection and the confidence and skills to participate safely in the outdoor.”
Whenua Iti Outdoors calls on the Ministry of Education to reconsider this short-sighted move and engage meaningfully with educators, employers, and communities before making changes that could have lasting negative impacts on young people and the outdoor sector.
ENDS
