Tōku Ara

Connection
Connection
Connection

Technology is great, but there is no app for this.

No screen can ever provide the sensory experiences, physical clarity and emotional enlightenment that nature and the outdoors provides free of charge everyday.
Ruawahine 2023

We are already six days deep into the Toku Ara Ruawahine program.
It’s been epic and such a privilege getting to know these competitive, determined, funny, brave, gorgeous wahine. We look forward to supporting and nurturing their Toku Ara Journey over the next 20 days.

The Guiding Principles of Toku Ara

Toku Ara is built on eight guiding principles that are the foundation of our curriculum and guide us towards achieving our vision.
Our eight guiding principles are:
Community living
Service
Well being
Te Ao Maori
Adventure
Challenge
Simplicity
Relationships
Here are our boys putting the principles into action.

Bush 1 skills
The boys had a hearty introduction to our Outdoor pursuits programme with three days learning Bush 1 skills off campus. This included:
- Map reading and navigation
- Survival skills.
- Search and rescue skills.
- Fire lighting with a one match challenge.
- Cooking dinner on their fire- Bush stew.
- Bivvy building.
- Knife skills.
- Survival scenario- the boys spend a night in the bush sleeping in their bivvys without a sleeping bag or food.
- The boys are assessed on the completion of the survival scenario and the quality of their bivvy.

The first full week of the Rangipo boys programme 2023 has been an absolute pleasure. The sun has been shining, our days have been massive and we are really proud of the way the boys have worked together, facing all challenges with determination, and giving every opportunity a good go. They are a great bunch of young men.
Here are a couple of pics from the last seven days.

Nau mai Haere mai
The Toku Ara staff are so excited to welcome the 2023 cohort of boys onto the Toku Ara campus today at 10.30am for the 4 week Rangipo programme.
Our staff will direct parking as parents arrive. Feel free to look around campus but please do not go into dorms or unpack your gear. At 10.25am Alistair Luke will call everyone to gather at the entrance to begin the Mihi Whakatau.
A reminder to parents- please have your letter of love ready to share with your son after morning tea.
We look forward to seeing you all soon.
Nga mihi
The Toku Ara staff

https://www.tokuara.co.nz/
Check out our new website for all information about Toku Ara.

We are a week away from embarking on our 2nd year of Toku Ara. Our first group of year 10 boys is large - 15 extra boys compared to last year! So we are reaching out to our Toku Ara community for extra supplies. As such, we desperately need:
- a transportable cabin to rent or even borrow😊. We need this short term (6 weeks).
- A dishwasher.
- 2 x single bunks.
If you can help out please get in touch, we would love to hear from you.

We are dusting off our Toku Ara Snail Mail Box and preparing it for the thoroughfare of letters, cards and photos that will pass through it from Toku Ara students and their whanau.

Because we live ‘off the grid’ at Toku Ara students keep in touch with their whanau through letters.

We want to give a huge shout out to the lovely office ladies at Whangamata Area School for managing this for us👌🏽🙌.

It takes weeks to prepare for Toku Ara. It’s a commitment made by all Toku Ara staff.
Our Outdoor pursuit lead Matua Ryan Thompson has spent a few of his weekends cutting tracks and marking them for our 3 day tramp. This photo is a perfect example of some of our staff and their whanau getting the mahi done. They tramped out to our Solo sites to clear and set up more sites for our large group of year 10 boys we have this year.
It’s so awesome to see some of the Toku Ara boys from last year out there helping out also.

During the summer holidays these five wahine returned to Wharekawa lodge to relive their Toku Ara days.
The girls planned their own menu and cooked for themselves, shared lots of ‘do you remember’ memories, proudly pointed out service projects they had been involved in, climbed Maunga Ruawahine, and went for late night swims. They were pretty stoked that they didn’t have to clean the toilets and bathrooms though.😆
We just loved hearing about this awesome experience that connected these girls back to Toku ara.
Remember to follow us on Instagram also .ara

Kia ora Toku Ara whanau
Make sure you are following us on Instagram .ara

Enjoy your Waitangi Day and take some time to think about and act upon the many opportunities we have to nurture our bicultural potential in Aotearoa.

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/whangamata-area-school-toku-ara

Please take some time to read through the Tōku Ara givealittle page. The Tōku ara curriculum in its essence is about connection and relationships. We provide an environment where youth can take a reset, be tech free, immerse themselves in the natural world, slow down, and learn more about themselves and their peers.
It is an experience like no other and a transformative approach in education toward improving student wellbeing.
Our collective generosity and support will see this curriculum sustained for the future generation of youth in the Whangamata and wider community. Any donation of support is appreciated. A share on your own page would be amazing too.
Thank you

Help transform student well being through the Tōku Ara (My Pathway) Curriculum This is a chance to guarantee future generations benefit from living and breathing this pathway. This will require everybody's support.

‘I was trying to connect the girls with Wharekawa on my level. Personally, we started by taking off our shoes, and just digging our feet into the soil out the front there. And then we were looking out at the water and I said I can teach you a little bit of me, how I grew up. And that’s how we got to floundering. It was me giving a piece of myself and my up bringing.’
Simone Hughes - Mentor

Learning to catch and cook fish through the methods of net and line fishing and floundering became a Toku Ara favourite for many students. For the boys, net and line fishing were introduced to them on their second day of Toku Ara. Whereas for the girls floundering became a firm favourite for many to participate in.
Students enjoyed bringing fish and flounder back to the lodge- learning to fillet it, smoke it or bbq it, and share it with everyone at meal times.

People are the key to Toku Ara and whilst everyone involved is different, everyone knows their role and there is a range of people for students to connect with. It is the relationships that endure, and if the people our students come to admire are setting a positive example around the strands of Toku Ara, we will achieve our goals for our young people going forward.
Alistair Luke
Principal Whangamata Area school

Simone Hughes
Juliana Treadwell
Shanan Duffull
Ryan Thompson
Aroha Mckerrow
Jamie Barrance
Greig Frankie Milne
Renee Cullen
Christina Wilson
Denise Clarke
Gina Kennings
Nicholas TahanaTautuhi
Mike Cooney
Simon Rogers

Toku Ara Mural

This mural was designed and constructed by the Toku Ara girls of 2021.
It's hard enough to decide what to draw on your own let alone with everyone singing from different songbooks. They put aside their differences to work as a whanau with a clear and positive goal.They wanted to show what they ALL felt the Toku Ara pathway looked like, personally and as a whanau.

The mural is cut into three different yet connected panels. It begins with the individual seed, grows to a plant (our girl), then as their pathway culminates the plant begins to flourish outside their previous constraints. Within this, flourishing new growth emerges.
The colours were influenced by the whenua(land), the sea and the sky.

Even though the mural is cut into three panels, the voices of whanau support are captured by the girls, linked silhouettes standing strong together with personal growth being constant.
Now, everyone can clearly see their own journey and sense of mana, of their Toko Ara whanau. The girls smashed it!
Words by Shanan Duffull

Technology is great....but there is no app for this.

No screen can ever provide the sensory experiences, physical clarity and emotional enlightenment that nature and the outdoors provides free of charge everyday.

A huge congratulations to these 23 beautiful, brave, strong, confident, independent, adventurous and incredibly talented wahine toa.
You have lead the way for others and we are so proud of you all.

Adorn the bird with feathers, and it will fly.
Ma te huruhuru ka rere te manu.

Three Day Expedition

The three day expedition is a significant part of the Tōku Ara journey. It pushes students to their limits and teaches them that they are strong and can achieve what they set their minds to.
The expedition involves travelling over rough, steep bush terrain with heavy packs. The students carry everything they need for food and shelter for three days. Each night they set up a bivvy with a tarp and ropes and cook with a tranjia.

Ruawahine - Girls Expedition
It was a serious undertaking for many of the girls. Some had never walked more than 5km and they were faced with 44km with packs on! During the briefing staff reassured the girls that they were capable of completing the expedition and that many of the barriers are mental and can be overcome with support and the right mindset.

Day 1 - Wentworth to Pukewhau - 13km
This was the most challenging day, mostly uphill and lots of it. The track went straight into very steep climbs. The track condition slowly deteriorated after lunch, until we spent the last few hours fighting through supplejack. Everyone was exhausted when we finally arrived at camp. But as soon as fires were lit and dinner cooking spirits rose and we had a fun night telling stories and eating marshmallows and chocolate.

Day 2 - Pukewhau to Taungatara - 14km
Day 2 was the most fun day. We got to enjoy the hard effort of day 1 and travel downhill! The track passed through a lot of old mining areas and we had lots of fun exploring mine shafts and tunnels and finding enormous wetas! Day 2 camp was a beautiful spot on the banks of the Wharekawa River and under the shadow of Taungatara mountain. A few keen girls braved the cold river for a swim. After the sunset it was cold down in the valley and many of us had a chilly night's sleep.

Day 3 - Taungatara to Wharekawa Lodge - 17km
Homeward bound and a big day to finish. Many of us were sore and tired but had to keep focussed and strong to complete the 17km to the finish line. Climbing Rangipo mountain was a highlight and we had great views of Whangamata and Wharekawa harbour. We had to cross the Wharekawa River and the tide was full so it was looking like a swim across (which no one was keen for). Fortunately we found an old dinghy on the river bank. Farmer Joe said we could use it but he didn’t know if it would float. The last stretch to Wharekawa Lodge flew by and we were done!

Wentworth to Wharekawa Lodge, an incredible journey and achievement. Lifelong memories made and lessons learned.

‘My success is not mine alone, it is a result of the love and support from the collective.’
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takatini.

We are in our last week of the foundation Toku Ara, and we are feeling very grateful of its success. On behalf of the Toku Ara staff and students we would like to show our thanks and appreciation to these superstars. We are truly grateful for your support, guidance, donations, time, and help.

Our Families💖🙌
Alistair Luke
Whangamata Area School BOT
Whangamata Area School staff
Wharekawa Lodge
Wharekawa Trustees
Jethro Dyer and Opoutere School
Pitcher Electrical -You’re a champion Lance!
Whangamata Community Services
Ohui Lodge
Whangamata Subway
Bubbas
Ted from Bunnings
Whangamata Arts Collective
Olive Jay Cakes
Mere Berryman
Mike Cooney
Junior Wairepo
George Kiwara
Kurt Jacobs
Simon Rogers
Steve Trebilco
Alison Mills
Nigel Ward
Sue Jamieson
Heather Watt
Sam Wairepo-Savage
Murray Clarke
Greg Laing Wby
Carrie Anne Burns
Vicky Bradshaw
Nigel and Christine Mulholland
Donna Cooney
Scott Smith
Glenda Betts
Justin Leach
Joe Adams
Andy Warnford
Chris Woudenberg
Kip and Linda
Mike and Tanya Ward
Andrea from Opoutere, who taught knitting 🧶
Jaime Laura Cox
Flooring Xtra
Rayonier
Whangamata Waka ama
Whangamata Surf School
Pedal and Paddle
Whangamata Ridges mountain bike club
Whangamata locals who donated appliances, kitchen utensils and furniture.
All of the role models who attended our Mentor Bbq dinner and evening.
THANK YOU 🙏
AROHANUI KOUTOU

She believed she could, so she did!
Ruawahine girls programme
Toku Ara

Ruawahine girls programme
The second intake of students for our very first Tōku Ara are the Year 10 girls. Their programme is called Ruawāhine and is named after the mountain located on the edge of the Wharekawa campus.
The purpose of the Ruawāhine programme is for girls to have a 26 day unique educational experience that makes them aware of just how resourceful and resilient they are and how they can achieve whatever they put their mind to.

Through our Tōku Ara programme we endeavour to achieve these outcomes for all students:
-Greater self belief and acknowledgement of own capabilities.
-Improved social skills and friendships.
-Greater confidence in group situations and improved communication skills.
-Positive mindset to take on new challenges.
-Increased resilience and determination.
-A calmer attitude and approach when under pressure.
-Improved physical fitness.
-Appreciation of diversity and the value of others around them.
-Strengthened ability to deal with change.
-Improved sense of well-being.
-Increase engagement in education.
-Developed social and environmental responsibility and a desire to actively engage in service to others and the local environment.
-Strengthened identity and a reinforced sense of belonging.
-Appreciation and improved sense of pride in their local environment, school and whanau.

Solo experience at Toku Ara

Solo can be an easy concept for some and welcomed, while other students really struggle with the concept and the practice of having to endure time alone. Here are some of the ideas to further your understanding behind having a 16 hour solo during Toku Ara.

The Basic Framework
Every Solo experience is unique. Students will always be briefed on Solo by Toku Ara staff before it occurs. The essence remains that students are separated from each other and Toku Ara staff in order to truly fulfill the idea of being ‘solo’. Staff are never more than a brief walk away from student Solo sites checking in on students to administer any medication needed, and ultimately the general well-being of students. These checks happen intermittently throughout the Solo experience.
Reflection
Everyone has a story; how much time do we give ourselves to think about how it is being written or where the story is going? At Toku Ara an emphasis is put on reflection because we believe that reflection encourages profound, long-term learning and growth at all ages. There is no cell phone, no television, no music, and nothing other than you and your thoughts out in the NZ native bush.
It Is Not Survival
Solo is not a survival test. Students receive small packets of raw food exclusively for Solo that equals the level of little-to-no-exertion that occurs.
Rest
Solo offers the opportunity to relax. We all need a rest day. With resting both the body and the mind, students return from Solo capable of accomplishing amazing feats.

The Guiding Principles of Toku Ara

Toku Ara is built on eight guiding principles that steer our curriculum towards achieving our mission. These include:
Community living
Service
Well being
Te Ao Maori
Adventure
Challenge
Simplicity
Relationships
Check out the photos to see these in action.

There is more in you than you know. If you can be made to believe it, perhaps for the rest of your life you will be unwilling to settle for less.

Kurt Hahn- founder of Outward Bound

Connection learning - Mana Tāne programme
During high school our boys face one of the most exciting and challenging times of their life - building an independent identity, while moving into a wider world of possible risk and danger. Young men need good men who are prepared to share the deepest truth about their lives. Without that, they run the risk of building an identity based on guesswork from peers, borrowed images, media stereotypes and the fantastical heroes of popular culture.
The Mana Tane programme aims to bring out the best in our teenage boys, celebrating their unique gifts, instilling a sense of belonging. The programme takes our boys through four markers to manhood, while being encouraged and supported by their male mentor.
Marker one
The Calling and The Departure ceremonies
Marker two
The art of Whakairo (carving)
Boys design and carve a taonga (Patu) which symbolises their aspirations and the path they want to take into their future. They explain the meaning of the carving in the last ceremony which involves whānau and their male mentor.
Marker three
16 hour solo and fire ceremony
Marker four
Connection ceremony with whanau and staff
Last Monday the boys walked to the top of maunga Ruawahine, and were called to step onto their path of independence and in becoming a young man. If they decided to take the challenge, they could take/receive their own bushcraft knife.
Not all boys took on that challenge that day. And that’s ok. But through out the week, they have quietly approached their mentor and taken up the challenge and received their bushcraft knife.
The knives are precious and stored away when not in use. The boys have had lessons in whittling and carving, and yesterday they were taken on the first outdoor pursuits weekend.

Inā kei te mohio koe ko wai koe, I anga mai koe i hea, kei te mohio koe. Kei te anga atu ki hea.

If you know who you are and where you are from, then you will know where you are going.

This Whakatauki is a gentle reminder and one that the staff of Toku Ara align closely to our ‘Why’.

It’s been an epic three days of activity, friendship, fun, challenge, and teamwork. The boys are getting their heads around the routines and expectations of Toku Ara, and our awesome mentors are right there guiding and supporting them.

I’ll let the photos speak for themselves.

Mihi whakatau

The Staff of Tōku Ara warmly invite students and their whānau to this event to formally welcome them to the Rangipo Programme.
Where: Wharekawa Lodge
When: Sunday 21st March at 10.30am
A mihi whakatau (official welcome) is similar to a pōwhiri (welcome ceremony), but less formal. Whereas pōwhiri typically happen on the marae, mihi whakatau can and do occur in other locations such as school and the workplace.

A brief outline of how the day will run.

10:30 am - Students and whanau arrive. Staff will help you find a park. Please gather by the first carpark with Alistair and Matua George.
When you hear the karanga slowly walk onto the campus and find yourself a seat. Males/speakers please fill up the front seats.
Following the a speaker from the Tangata whenua will be followed by a waiata (song).
We’ll then hand the time over to the Manuhiri side for a response and waiata.
The Tangata whenua will complete the formal speaking.

The hongi (pressing of noses) and harirū (shaking hands) will complete the formalities of the mihi whakatau.

Gather in mentor groups with introductions between parents/mentors.
Campus tour

12.30pm BBQ LUNCH provided

After lunch students move gear into rooms, settle in. Mentors to support and lead.

3-4pm Farewell parents - Karakia