Taking Stock Of Outdoor Pursuits

Nelson¹s outdoor pursuits centre, Whenua Iti is doing a stock-take¹ of the
services it offers and its role in the community, now and into the future.

Manager Dee Cresswell says the centre celebrates its 20th anniversary in the
New Year, which seemed like a good time to do some research to provide
information for future planning.

³We recently did some strategic planning with Celia Lashlie, who described
us as a unique and under-utilised resource¹ - and we want to do something
about that,² she said. ³We are going to the wider Nelson Bays community with
a questionnaire that explores people¹s perceptions of Whenua Iti, asks what
services people would like to see Whenua Iti deliver in the future, and what
needs or opportunities people believe are not currently being met in this
region.²

The questionnaire is being sent to all schools, and is being widely
distributed across a range of sectors, including health, businesses and
community groups.

Ms Cresswell said Whenua Iti had adapted its role in response to changing
times over its 20 year history, and was ready to do so again.

³In the 80s we responded to high unemployment, then in the late 90s we
offered an outdoor recreation fee paying course at tertiary level. We still
offer government tertiary education courses, we have just been contracted as
a provider of Learning Experiences Outside the Classroom and we have always
maintained our focus on at-risk youth and those with special needs,² she
said.

³There are other opportunities we believe we could cater for, such as
father and son outdoor experiences, team building with corporates and
courses that address youth health issues - the current research will help us
to refine our ideas and match them with the needs the community identifies.²

The research is being led by Esmé Palliser of TasmanBay Research

If you would like to be sent a questionnaire form please call Whenua Iti
0800 379 842 or download from www.whenua-iti.org.nz

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