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The generosity of a small Danish mullet fisherman was celebrated on Kawau Island on November 18.
Niels Bentzon donated 29 acres in North Cove to ‘the youth of New Zealand’ in 1935, where the camp that bears his name was established 38 years later. About 90 friends and supporters of Camp Bentzon gathered to pay tribute to that donation and to reflect on the camp’s first half century.
Initially, the land was donated to the Education Board and a small school operated from the site for a few years, with the teacher domiciled in an adjoining tent.
When the school closed, the land lay dormant until teacher and former All Black Noel Bowden started visiting the site and took an interest in its future. A meeting was convened at Mahurangi College in October 1969, where the Camp Bentzon (Kawau Island) Trust Board was established. The first members represented Waipu District School. Otamatea High School, Rodney College, Mahurangi College, Orewa High School, North Shore teachers Training College and the Department of Education. Bowden was elected chair.
Fundraising started and the camp opened on November 3, 1973.
Current board chair Richard Boyle told the gathering on November 18 that over time, there had been many improvements and the introduction of fulltime managers and staff.
“We have moved from wooden dinghies to the fleet we have today, including kayaks and paddleboards,” he said.
“The old septic has been replaced with a state-of-the-art system, the accommodation has been upgraded and expanded, and modern kitchen and dining facilities built. Those first guests could only dream of what the place looks like today.”
Current managers Peter and Erin Hyde, who have run the camp for just over 17 years, were thanked for their tireless efforts looking after the camp and the thousands of guests it has accommodated.
Peter said the camp continued to benefit from the support of many generous individuals, groups and businesses.
“From the early visionary founding members in the 1960s to those who, in the last few months, enabled us to re-roof the main building, including organisations that funded the project and suppliers and contractors who donated product and services – all from the 1960s to the present day have had a part to play in the camp’s successes,” he said.
“Camp Bentzon has been assembled very much like a jigsaw puzzle and has slowly grown, almost organically, as funds and resources have become available.”
Today, the camp has 120 beds and connections with 32 schools, as well as accepting youth, family and other groups on weekends.
The camp remains an outdoor education facility committed to providing young people with outdoor education activities, particularly water-based, where young people can experience challenges to enable them to grow and become valuable members of society.
