Special Character of NZ UWC
The rich wilderness and awesome natural environment of our Wakatipu site underpins the special character that a New Zealand United World College would offer to the international UWC movement. Key elements include:
Focus on environment, conservation, resource management and resource allocation as strong elements of the College programme.
- Enabling of strong outdoor pursuits and wilderness adventure programmes; enhancing the special NZ UWC-Outward Bound partnership and highlighting the adventurous and resilient Kiwi spirit.
- Understanding our indigenous culture and Ngai Tahu as Tanga-te-Whenua through proximity to Pounamu and key resource areas; examining the policy objectives and outcomes of New Zealand’s Treaty settlement process.
Further valuable contributions a UWC in New Zealand would bring to the wider movement are:
- The freedom of New Zealand's open society and warmth and openness of NZ character.
- The close involvement of 'Village New Zealand'.
- Safe haven setting for bringing disparate people together. New Zealand has a neutral foreign policy, and regularly rates as the least corrupt in international rankings.
- New Zealand is strongly internationalist in outlook, a keen supporter of multilateral negotiations and agreements and consistently rates as one of the most traded nations as a proportion of GNP.
- New Zealanders are known for their resourcefulness, innovation and self reliance.
- New Zealand college would strengthen the Outward Bound – UWC connection.
- Providing UWC with an Australasian presence.
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