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Mahurangi College has officially opened its Hoteo Camp, known as Te Hoteo Wero, or The Hoteo Challenge, a five-day outdoor camp in the Kaipara Hills that has been seven years in the making.
Its purpose is to develop capable, confident and resilient students by engaging them in physical, mental and personal challenges, alongside work that connects them with nature and restores the environment.
The opening ceremony was held on Saturday, November 15 to bless the site and thank everybody for what they had done to make it become a reality.
Deputy principal Keith Tennant said the idea was sparked when former Mahu College Board of Trustees chair Dean Iversen and Kaipara farmer Steven Dill discussed the possibility of creating an off-the-grid camp.
“Together they dreamed up a crazy idea to create a school camp on the Hoteo River that took students out of their normal comfort zone, away from the distractions of the internet and modern technology for a few days,” Tennant said.
He added that from 2019 the school committed fully to the concept.
“Since then Mahurangi College has been dedicated to providing its Year 10 students with an unforgettable outdoor experience that fosters resilience, teamwork and personal growth.”
Tennant said the project progressed only because of widespread local backing.
“From the outset, this initiative has been testament to the power of community support. A large group of volunteers from across a massive range of skill sets has poured thousands of hours into setting up the camp, offering donations, doing pro bono work, and providing invaluable expertise.”
Tennant said early work involved extensive consultation with a range of experts.
“We initially investigated various options, then in collaboration with Andrew Mount, an outdoor adventure specialist, engaged with local farmers, iwi, town planners, architects, scientists, lawyers and council members to establish the foundations of the camp.”
Its completion was delayed by covid and Cyclone Gabrielle, but the determination and resilience to see the project through to its end never wavered, Tennant said.
Later, new trustees Kim McKergow and Dave Morrison took on the leadership of the construction stage alongside Education Outside the Classroom director Mike Burton, who took over from Mount.
“This next phase of actually building all the facilities at the campsite was a massive undertaking that required a huge amount of time commitment, planning, coordinating and personal sacrifice from Kim and Dave.
“Kim’s husband, Gus McKergow, was seconded to be the lead builder for the camp’s construction.
Together the three of them approached many local companies and individuals to get involved in the project.”
Tennant added, “The support they received was overwhelming and highlighted the community spirit in the Mahurangi area. Most materials and time have been donated for free or at a greatly reduced price.”
For the past 18 months, “most weekends and many week nights” Morrison and the McKergows led working bees with local contractors and volunteers to complete the final stage of camp.
Now it’s all come to fruition.
Tennant said the camp was built for adventure with no access to the internet or wi-fi.
“Students sleep in large communal tents, gather in the barn for lessons, eat in the kitchen deck space and sit around a fire pit to cook and chat.”
He said the key activity linked two sites on the river.
“A major highlight is the multi-day journey where students hike to a secondary site, bivvy overnight, and then kayak back down the river to the main camp.”
Tennant added, “We look forward to seeing the camp evolve into a defining tradition for future generations of Mahurangi College students.”
