Kārearea Outdoor Adventures - KOA

23/06/2026

COMMUNITY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY

We have some wonderful news! A generous member of our community has offered to 50% fund two spots for next term’s programme, specifically for families who otherwise wouldn't have the financial means to enrol their kids.

This sponsorship is for our Term 3 After-School Outdoor Skills & Bushcraft Programme, with both Tuesday and Wednesday options available. Students must be able to make the Havelock North School pick up round.

How to apply: We want to keep this completely private and stress-free. If this would make a difference for your family, please reach out to me directly and confidentially via email at [email protected]

Spaces are limited to two children. A massive thank you to our anonymous sponsor for supporting our local youth! 💚

17/06/2026

The after-school crew have been getting stuck into some awesome practical skills over the last few weeks. We’ve been putting our maps and compasses to work, learning the basics of navigation and how to find our way through the bush.

We’ve also been practicing our fire-craft (the ultimate winter skill!) and spending time at the local waterways with some hands-on, catch-and-release eeling techniques.

It's awesome seeing their confidence grow each week as they learn lots of new skills and work together.

17/06/2026

TERM 3 BUSHCRAFT: BOOKINGS OPEN!

Our 10-week Outdoor Skills & Bushcraft programme is back for Term 3. We have Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon options available for next term.

We’ll be covering all the essentials:

- Emergency skills & safe tool use
- Fire-craft & shelter building
- Navigation & river crossing
- Eeling & natural world knowledge

Spaces are limited

👇 Head to our website to see the full details and lock in your child's spot!

www.kareareaoutdoor.co.nz

09/06/2026

Aotearoa’s conservation land belongs to all of us—not to the highest bidder.

The Government is currently fast-tracking the Conservation Amendment Bill, which aims to open up our public conservation lands and forest parks to long-term commercial leases (up to 60 years) for private infrastructure and luxury accommodation.

We’ve just lodged our official submission opposing this Bill. As an outdoor business that lives and breathes te taiao, we believe this Bill threatens three things that make New Zealand special:

1️⃣ Our Flora & Fauna: Building heavy commercial infrastructure fragments habitats and threatens our already vulnerable native biodiversity.
2️⃣ Public Access: Long-term private leases turn our shared wild spaces into exclusive zones, stripping away public rights to explore freely.
3️⃣ Equity of Access: Nature should be a democratic equalizer. Replacing open tracks and campsites with premium commercial amenities prices out local families, youth groups, and everyday Kiwis.

Have your say! Submissions close on 1 July 2026. If you want to protect your right to freely access New Zealand's backyards, it only takes a few minutes to lodge your opposition. Link in comments.

04/06/2026

New 2-Day Backcountry Skills & Hiking Programme (15 & 16 July)

Designed specifically for teens to challenge themselves and learn a wide range of new skills like:

- Navigation, trip planning, and emergency survival
- Bivvy building and flint-and-steel fire craft
- Teamwork and physical resilience in steep terrain

Limited spaces so head to our website for full details and enrolment.

www.kareareaoutdoor.co.nz

01/06/2026

New Dates Added! Due the the popularity of our upcoming Winter Hiking & Bushcraft Holiday Programme, we have added two new dates:

- Monday 13 July: Aramoana Coastal Hike (Te Angiangi Marine Reserve) & Tukituki Riverbed (Includes Fire Skills)

- Tuesday 14 July: Boundary Stream Reserve (Kamahi Loop Track) & Lake Tutira (Includes Bivvy Building)

Get in touch today at www.kareareaoutdoor.co.nz to secure your child's spot!

At KOA, we believe in the power of nature to transform lives. Through exploration and hands-on learning in the beautiful Hawkes' Bay outdoors, we foster a lifelong love for the environment and equip young learners with the skills they need to face challenges with confidence and resilience.

20/05/2026

This winter, tamariki will explore an incredible range of Hawke’s Bay environments with KOA – Karearea Outdoor Adventures! Across four action-packed days from 6–9 July 2026, we’ll head to a different outdoor location each day, journeying through native bush reserves, winding streams, rugged coastlines, beaches, and riverbeds.

Our daily expeditions will take us to a diverse selection of stunning spots around the region, including:

- White Pine Bush Scenic Reserve
- Waipatiki Coastal Track and Tangoio Beach
- Blowhard Bush Reserve and Karamū Stream
- Mohi Bush Reserve and Maraetotara Stream
- Elsthorpe Scenic Reserve
- Karakau Coastal Walk and Tukituki Riverbed

Along the way, participants will learn practical outdoor skills and dive into daily adventures, including:

- Fire lighting and outdoor cooking
- Hiking and wilderness exploration
- Bushcraft and navigation
- Hookless catch-and-release eeling
- Stream and coastal exploration
- Team challenges and games

Program Details
- Ages: 8–14 years old
- Group Size: Strictly limited to 11 participants per day for a high-quality experience
- Logistics: Daily drop-off and pick-up from the Havelock North Village Green

Spaces fill fast, so head over to our website to register and for full details!

At KOA, we believe in the power of nature to transform lives. Through exploration and hands-on learning in the beautiful Hawkes' Bay outdoors, we foster a lifelong love for the environment and equip young learners with the skills they need to face challenges with confidence and resilience.

06/05/2026

Our Term 2 After-School Outdoor Skills & Bushcraft Programme crew has made a great start!

From basic rope skills & bivvy building to river crossing & safety, both groups have been keen to learn and have had a great time getting stuck in.

Looking forward to seeing what the rest of the term brings for our learners.

18/04/2026

What a week!

Four epic days exploring Hawke’s Bay for the Hiking & Bushcraft Holiday Programme — Boundary Stream, Blowhard Bush, Mohi Bush, and Elsthorpe Scenic Reserve + the Karakau Coast.

River crossings, swims, shelter building, navigation, first aid and more.

The kids absolutely stepped up — awesome to see their confidence grow, skills develop, and the way they supported each other out there.

Thanks so much to all the whānau for your support — We're stoked to be able to offer these experiences.

31/03/2026

Happy to be supporting swimming lessons at Te Mata School

Every month, we will be featuring an interview with one of our our amazing Newsletter sponsors! Thank you so much Kieran Kruger founder of Kārearea Outdoor Adventures - KOA for sponsoring our Newsletter, which supports our school swimming programmes!

It was great to hear in the interview that you're delighted to help support our swimming because it aligns closely with what you do through your surfing and water safety programmes.

If you would like to read the full interview, head to p6 on our latest Newsletter!
https://www.sporty.co.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=c4f01caa-5f16-4a4c-b09d-506f41bfa92f