March 7-8 | 2026

KGT Student Leadership Camp - Maungatautari

We have a camp coming up!  (Year 7-13 only) NOW FULLY BOOKED

*Note: We will offer this same camp later this year for those who missed out - date still TBC.

Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari,  March 7-8 (One night at the sanctuary)

We are super excited to be one of the first groups to get to camp at the world's largest predator proof sanctuary!  This special camp is only for student leaders who are Year 7-13.  Numbers are limited, so the first 20 student leaders who fill in the form and pay will be able to attend this camp.

What to Expect

*NOTE: Change of meeting place due to Ironman

We’ll meet at the carpark across the road from Wairakei School (in Wairakei Village) at 10am on Saturday March 7th. From there we will car pool to the sanctuary. The next day we will aim to return by 3pm.

The accommodation is in the newly built Education Centre.  It is marae-style (sleeping on the floor in one open space).

On Saturday we will do a day hike and night walk inside the sanctuary where we should see many endangered native birds, bats, and maybe even a kiwi, as there are 2500 of them on the mountain!

On the Sunday, we will check out the Southern Enclosure with bird feeders for kākā and hihi, and a super high viewing tower. We’ll also do a tour of the wetland area to see takahē and tuatara.

❋ Location & times

We know that this will be a popular trip for parents, so we will need to limit numbers.  We will need parents to take a vehicle and transport children, so you must have a full driver's licence, current WOF and registration, and police vet.  If you would like to come along, please fill in the police vetting form attached ASAP and send it back to me with a copy of your drivers licence and passport (or other form of appropriate photo ID).  The first four parents who get back to us with this information will be able to go.

We know that this will be a popular trip for parents, so we will need to limit numbers.  Parents are required to take a vehicle and transport children. 

❋ Parent Help required
❋ What to bring

  • sleeping mat or airbed or stretcher

  • sleeping bag

  • pillow

  • small comfortable backpack for hiking

  • toiletries/medication

  • clothes appropriate for hiking

  • sneakers/hiking boots

  • headlamp/torch

  • PJs

  • bug spray

  • sunscreen and sun hat

  • warm layers for evening walk

  • rain jacket

  • change of clothes and underwear

  • towel

  • packed lunch for day 1

  • water bottle

  • baking or snacks to share

  • Cash for an ice cream (no more than $10). This is the responsibility of the student to look after.

  • Card games or other activities for free time

Do NOT bring:

  • chewing gum

  • valuable items - our coordinators cannot be responsible for these.

    *If students bring phones, they do so at their own risk. They are only to be used for photos and emergency calls. They are not to be used for social media and are not to be used at night.

❋ Cost per student

$50 - This includes dinner on Saturday and breakfast/lunch on Sunday, accommodation, entry into the Southern Enclosure with the tower, and entry into the wetland habitat to see tuatara and takahē.  It's an incredible opportunity.

*Note: as parents are providing transport/fuel for the trip, there is no cost for them to come along.