Wharekawa Adventure Education Trust

Veros was entrusted with conducting a comprehensive feasibility study for the Wharekawa Adventure Education Trust (WAET), focusing on the future use of Wharekawa Lodge, a gem nestled at the base of Maungaruawahine, overlooking the stunning Wharekawa Harbour in Ōpoutere. The aim was to explore pathways for WAET to expand its services and programs, transforming Wharekawa Lodge into a fully utilized, revenue-generating facility.

Wharekawa Lodge, with its rich history as a former native school and youth hostel, holds a unique place in the community’s heart. The original schoolhouse and teacher’s house from 1909 are central to the lodge, embodying the area’s historical and cultural essence.

Highlights:

• WAET envisions transforming the lodge into a cornerstone for the Tōku Ara youth development programme and a free resource for Ōpoutere School, fostering educational growth and resilience among students through outdoor and cultural learning experiences.
• The study encompassed an analysis of necessary upgrades, competitive landscape assessment, and strategic refurbishment and development options, all tailored to meet WAET’s objectives.
• Emphasising the lodge’s status as a taonga and leveraging its potential to benefit local youth, the project is a testament to WAET’s commitment to enhancing community wellbeing through education.

Leveraging deep expertise and a longstanding relationship with WAET, Veros provided critical insights into the lodge’s potential, outlining viable options for refurbishment and future use. This strategic guidance aimed to ensure Wharekawa Lodge could sustainably support the Tōku Ara programme and remain an accessible educational space for local schools.