Breaking Barriers: How the Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa Fund Supported the Kora Programme to Empower Rangatahi
29 January 2025
At Nuku Ora, our purpose is to enhance hauora and wellbeing for individuals, whānau, and communities through increased physical activity. As part of this commitment, we have supported initiatives such as Outward Bound’s Kora programme, through our Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa fund.
The goal behind the Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa fund is to remove barriers to physical activity for tamariki and rangatahi, and the Kora programme brought this vision to life. Designed in collaboration with local high schools and community groups, the programme inspires activity, helps unlock potential, and equips rangatahi with skills to overcome challenges. The name, Kora, meaning ‘to speak or ignite’, reflects its purpose of igniting growth and development while fostering community connections and addressing the need for increased physical activity.
By working with communities and providing them with this physical activity opportunity, the Kora programme is breaking down barriers to empower communities and providing quality opportunities and experiences to encourage physical activity and hauora.
The Kora programme adapts the Outward Bound methodology to suit the age, geographical, cultural, and social context of each participating school. Delivered through 97 weekly training sessions, the programme incorporates:
- Adventure Based Learning (ABL) activities
- Facilitated discussions and debriefs
- Involvement with community service through projects and organisations
- Conservation work
- Outdoor activities
- Guest presentations
These activities blend physical, mental, emotional and social challenges to improve hauora, fitness and help foster positive physical activity habits.
Rangatahi (defined as youth aged 10-24 years) are a priority group due to their declining rates of physical activity. The 2021 participants consisted of rangatahi from participating schools including Porirua, Taita, Tawa and Heretaunga Colleges. Outward Bound tailored the Kora programme to address systemic obstacles individuals from these communities face. Some examples of resulting structural barriers include limited access to gyms, school sports teams, recreation facilities and healthcare, which contribute to lower activity rates in these communities.
By bringing the renowned Outward Bound Anakiwa experience to school grounds, the programme became more accessible. This approach was positively received by students, with Year 12 Taita College student Olef Maliko reflecting, “It taught me about life values and pushing your comfort zone through difficult situations.”
The programme provides rangatahi with opportunities to step up and realise their potential and to become positive and contributing members of their communities. Through volunteering, students worked with local not for profit organisations developing skills to consider others, develop empathy and understand responsibility. By encouraging participants to engage in something larger than themselves, Kora boosts self-confidence, wellbeing and the likelihood of being physically active.
The Kora programme embodies our strategic priorities of empowering communities and providing quality opportunities and experiences in physical activity. This is demonstrated through working with these communities to understand the perceived barriers and challenges they face and identifying how to resolve them, in a way that reflects their needs and values.
Through funding support, Nuku Ora has contributed to breaking down systemic barriers, fostering learning and development, and promoting wellbeing through accessible and impactful physical activity programmes.
At Nuku Ora, we are committed to collaborating with others to create equitable, high-quality opportunities for all to experience the benefits of physical activity. Our support for the Kora Outward Bound programme exemplifies this commitment, enabling rangatahi to unlock their potential, develop lifelong habits of physical activity, and contribute positively to society. By working together, we can continue to empower communities, provide quality opportunities and experiences and inspire active, healthy lifestyles across the Wellington region.
If you have a programme, project or event that promotes physical activity and Hauora that requires funding to flourish, we encourage you to get in touch! You can find out more about the requirements and apply to our Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa fund here Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa | Nuku Ora.
