Ngā mihinui! Welcome to EcoQuest Te Rarangahau Taiao. We are excited that you have chosen to study with us. We are sure that you will thrive in the courses and workshops we offer through our vibrant, sustainable learning community.

EcoQuest provides a stimulating mix of rigorous academic pursuit, place-based and/or hands-on learning. You will have the opportunity to deepen conceptual learning, and to learn by doing in an interdisciplinary setting, in which you can gain and develop transferable skills. EcoQuest fosters intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and a pro-active mindset. You work in small teams alongside experienced faculty and field staff, which creates many rewarding and positive experiences for everyone. Sharing knowledge and applying new-found skills in real-time situations is an empowering experience.

In addition to working closely with the regular EcoQuest faculty and staff, learners may benefit from the expertise of guest lecturers and contributors to the EcoQuest courses and workshops. All contributors are selected for their expertise and experience as well as their capacity to be role models for our learners.

Whenever possible, alongside the necessary general theory and background information, we choose topical issues or case studies as foils for applied learning. Rigour and teamwork are important, and peer teaching sessions provide opportunities for learners to practice investigative approaches and presentation skills.   

The high ratio of staff to students at EcoQuest aims to ensure quality program delivery. EcoQuest provides the necessary physical resources to enable its students to fully partake in courses and workshops. Qualified field staff provide skills-training for activities that are necessary to participate in the programs  in accordance with the EcoQuest Risk Management processes. Staff review learning experiences with the students on a regular basis, to make sure that the relevance of materials in the context of the program is understood.

Basic skills in Te Reo Māori (Māori language), kawa and tikanga (protocol), are integral components of many of our courses. When a noho marae is part of the course, we always include marae kawa so students can feel at ease and enjoy the experience. We encourage students to develop an understanding of te Tiriti o Waitangi, and in many of our courses we explore aspects of Māori culture, history and traditions, as well as issues related to customary use, matauranga Māori (traditional knowledge), and kaitiakitanga (guardianship) of resources.