By Dr Shayne Galloway

As a former lecturer in outdoor education (OE) and the parent of a teenager, I’ve watched the government’s NCEA replacement project with alarm. In it, the government has removed OE from the senior curriculum subject list and placed it in a vocational-only stream. This risks undermining a subject that has become central to how thousands of young New Zealanders grow, learn and thrive. 

OE is not just a nice-to-have. More than 370 schools offer it, and enrolments have more than doubled in the past 15 years. 

OE is one of the most effective ways to keep students engaged in education. It gives young people the chance to step outside of classrooms, test themselves, and build confidence in real contexts – tramping, paddling, climbing and camping – while building deep appreciation for Aotearoa’s special places.

A recognised academic discipline that develops critical thinking, problem solving, risk management, leadership and environmental understanding, OE engages students by connecting knowledge to the outdoors and real-life challenges.

The benefits reach far beyond outdoor careers. OE creates pathways into teaching, conservation, science and tourism, and students learn leadership, teamwork and resilience. They discover that perseverance matters, that risks can be managed, and that connection with the natural world is both grounding and inspiring. These are life skills as much as job skills – qualities that every sector of society needs.

That’s why this change is so troubling. Fewer schools will offer OE and many of its wider benefits will be lost. We know that OE is often the subject that re-engages young people who struggle in traditional classrooms. It gives them a reason to turn up, participate and succeed. Removing it from the core curriculum undermines one of the strongest tools we have for inclusion and engagement.

OE must be returned to the academic subject list in order to continue to produce capable, confident citizens ready for the challenges of the modern world.

OE belongs in our schools. Let’s keep it where it is. Sign and share the Education Outdoors NZ petition, contact your MP, and write to Minister Erica Stanford. And if you are able, meet on the forecourt of parliament on 21Ruth, use the gpx and pdf aOctober at 1pm and we’ll hand over the petition together.

Dr Shayne Galloway is a recreation consultant and former lecturer in outdoor education.