Leaders in Recruitment | Auahatanga Kimi Kaiako

Kimi kaiako: transforming our recruitment approach

In the past, our approach to recruiting instructors involved one or two annual ’selection courses’ at Anakiwa. These five-day intensive programmes tested prospective instructors at a higher intensity than our standard courses, determining if they were suited for the role. We identified that there were multiple barriers to this approach, including:

Misleading expectations: The selection course didn't accurately reflect the realities of working here.

Limited availability: Applicants had to be available for one of the few annual blocks, making it restrictive.

Resource intensive: These courses required significant involvement from our management team.

Introducing kimi kaiako | recruitment course

To overcome these challenges, we shifted to a hybrid recruitment model. In 2024, we trialed this new approach, which we call kimi kaiako – kimi (to seek out, search) kaiako (instructor).

Our new recruitment course spans three days of observation followed by two days of skills assessment. This new system offers several improvements:

We can now run up to six courses annually, offering multiple dates for potential applicants.
With around 3-4 participants per course, the process is less demanding on our management team compared to the traditional 14-participant ’selection courses’. This also allows for a deeper understanding of each applicant.
Participants get a more accurate picture of what the life and mahi of a kaiako is.
Our focus has shifted to bringing individuals who are closer to being work-ready, enhancing the quality of our recruits.

Recruiting instructors has always been challenging due to the broad skillset required. The implementation of kimi kaiako has streamlined our process, and as of July 2024, we had four exceptional instructors start in August 2024, and three of the ten we need next year have already committed to starting in February 2025.

This innovative approach demonstrates our commitment to adaptive leadership, ensuring we attract and recruit highly capable instructors who are prepared to lead and inspire.

Instructor pathways

We take pride in the diverse journeys our instructors undertake to join our whānau. These unique pathways reflect a rich tapestry of experiences and backgrounds, contributing to the exceptional learning environment we foster in Anakiwa. Here, we highlight the stories of two of our dedicated instructors, Ryan and Tasman, who embody the spirit and dedication it takes to guide and inspire our tauira.

Ryan’s journey: from football to the forest 

Ryan’s journey to becoming an instructor has been anything but linear. Growing up with a passion for football and a love for the outdoors, Ryan spent his childhood in the waves of Northland and the Coromandel.

After high school, he spent a year in England as a teacher and sports coach. This experience laid the foundation for his teaching career and ignited his passion for mentoring others.

An Outward Bound course, recommended by a family friend, became a pivotal moment in Ryan’s life. The experience was transformative, inspiring him to spend 9 months in South America teaching English and learning about himself. Two of his watch mates even got married!

Upon returning home, Ryan joined the Outward Bound head office team in Pōneke Wellington, working with community partnerships and scholarships. Recognising his passion for outdoor education, the training manager invited Ryan to participate in instructor training sessions. Not long after, Ryan was offered a position as an instructor intern in 2021 and has been an instructor for the last three years.

Ryan and Tasman’s journeys exemplify the leadership diversity within our Outward Bound kaiako team. Their varied backgrounds in sports, teaching, travel, and formal education demonstrate the wide range of skills and perspectives that strengthen our leadership and enrich our team.

Instructor Ryan with one of his watches

Tasman’s legacy with Outward Bound

Tasman’s path to Outward Bound began with a strong foundation in outdoor exploration and a family legacy of involvement with Outward Bound - both her parents worked at Outward Bound in Singapore, and her father worked as an instructor in Anakiwa. Growing up surrounded by outdoor instructors and frequent adventures, she developed a deep love for nature and a passion for the outdoors.

After high school, she pursued formal education in adventure education at Tai Poutini Polytechnic. This academic journey equipped her with meaningful skills and certifications, including a Grade 2 Raft Guide Award and NZIOA Leaders qualifications in rock, abseil, and bush.

After completing her studies she moved to Dunedin, balancing roles as a raft guide, outdoor instructor, and teacher aide. In 2023, after extensive work with Dunedin Adventures and a month-long rock-climbing trip in Thailand, she applied for the instructor role at Outward Bound. Despite being a younger candidate, her skills and passion stood out, leading to her selection for the kimi kaiako recruitment course. After a brief travel period in South America, she began her role at Outward Bound in February 2024.

Tasman with her kimi kaiako group (standing, third from left)

Tasman pictured bottom right.