TAKE 20 young people from around the North Island and deposit them at Ngati Rangi Marae in Ohakune for seven days ... and they emerge as a band of eco-warriors ready to battle for our waterways, forests and wildlife.
The week-long Kiwi Forever experience - funded by the Untouched World Charitable Trust, Genesis Energy and the Department of Conservation - is open students aged 16 to 18, and offers a range of activities designed to broaden knowledge and skills about biodiversity and issues of sustainability.
One of those at the camp last week was Sophie McElrich, of Wanganui Collegiate, who said the experience had been "transformational" and she had gained a whole new understanding of how our actions affect our environment.
"We went on tramps into dense bush with the DoC rangers and set and cleared pest traps," she said. "It was amazing and I have so much respect for what those people do.
"I have also gained a lot more insight into the relationships that Maori, especially Ngati Rangi, have with the environment and we have been made to feel like part of the family here."
Sophie and fellow Collegiate student Jess Thompson are the first Wanganui city school students to attend the programme and Jess was equally enthusiastic.
"We got to release a hand-reared whio (blue duck) and a hand-reared kiwi - an amazing hands-on experience."
The girls said that the evenings were spent in discussion and team debates on environmental issues such as the use of 1080 poison for pest control.
Four students from Ruapehu College were also on the programme this year, while Antonia Honeta, a graduate of last year's camp, was invited back as a speaker for this year's graduation.
"This experience really touches you deep down and it has helped with my study, too," she said.
"When I came here last year, I was very anti-1080 use and the discussions here really made me think, and now I'm not so sure."
Antonia, who is Ngati Rangi, said she also learned things she didn't know about her iwi and the experience strengthened her connection.
Students from the current course presented short speeches and role plays to share their learning experiences with guests.
Laise Morris of Ruapehu College said that although the group were extended beyond their comfort zones and when asked to participate in physically demanding tasks they all rose to the challenge.
"It has all been about positives - nobody was moaning" she said.
Keith and Mercia Wood have hosted the Kiwi Forever programme at their marae for 10 years and have seen almost 400 young students and newly-qualified teachers pass through the programme.
When a proposal was made to the Ngati Rangi Trust to form a partnership, Mr Wood was hesitant at first.
"After careful consideration by the iwi, we saw that it was an opportunity to share our culture and world view of conservation," he said.
"It is an opportunity to remove barriers and look after the waterways, the forest and the wildlife in partnership with others.
Mr Wood said the young people had made some "courageous efforts" when asked to assist DoC rangers with difficult tasks like removing dead possums and stoats from traps.
"They got to go out into the field with all the experts and they flourished."
Founder of the Untouched World sustainable clothing label, Peri Drysdale, was visiting from Christchurch and said it was always heartening to hear testimonies from students.
"When the staff at Untouched World get to hear these accounts from students, they come away a bit damp-eyed and it encourages them to come to work each day knowing that their work is contributing to these programmes."
Ms Drysdale founded the charitable trust in 2000 and 1 per cent of all Untouched World sales are used to fund it.
"When I travelled overseas, I would see so much environmental degradation and I was aware that it was happening here, too.
"Clothing manufacturing is the second dirtiest industry in the world and I wanted to not only reduce our impact on the environment but to contribute to its sustainability.
"It can be very overwhelming and seen as too big to do anything about but setting up the trust has been a way for us to make a difference."
Nicola Young, who brokered the setting up of the Ngati Rangi-based programme, said she had seen conservation work funded by the Untouched World Charitable Trust in the South Island and approached DoC colleague Brent Guy about setting up the programme.
"A lot of projects fall over because they are only given seed money and there is no ongoing commitment," said Ms Young. "So it is wonderful to think it has been running for 10 years now - the ongoing support from the trust has made it sustainable."
Genesis Energy was praised for its efforts in coming on board in 2013 and funding the whio release programme, as well as working to reduce the impact that power generation has on waterways.
The group has collaborated with a range of technical experts to investigate options for an "agreed flow" to help rehabilitate the section of river most impacted by diversion of the flow at the Tokiahuru intake structure, and the project is working towards the realisation of ecological and cultural benefits for the river.
Mr Wood thanked the students for their participation and told them how important they were.
"This would not be a successful story without you and your willingness to participate," he said.
"With your efforts we can become a strong, vibrant, multicultural and loving society - you are our future leaders."
-Information about the Kiwi Forever programme can be found at Untouched-World-Charitable-Trust on Facebook.