Kura Mai Explore
Discover. Connect. Grow.
Learning doesn't stop at the classroom door, it comes alive through experience.
Kura Mai Explore creates unforgettable educational journeys that challenge, inspire, and empower young people to discover who they are and the impact they can have on the world around them.
With more than 25 years of experience in education, we thoughtfully design programmes that build confidence, resilience, leadership, belonging, and real-world skills while ensuring every learner feels seen, supported, and challenged.
Whether exploring the natural beauty of Aotearoa/New Zealand, connecting with local communities, travelling overseas, or stepping into new leadership opportunities, our experiences are intentionally designed to create memories and learning that lasts a lifetime.
From local Taranaki adventures to multi-day journeys around Aotearoa/New Zealand, we create experiences that young people will remember long after they return home.
EXPERIENCES FOR AOTEAROA/NEW ZEALAND SCHOOLS
Kura Mai Explore offers tailored experiences for primary, intermediate and secondary schools.
Choose a local day experience, leadership intensive, overnight camp or multi-day adventure.
Primary
Explore. Connect. Grow.
Positive, supported experiences designed to build confidence, friendship, teamwork, curiosity and belonging.
Intermediate
Challenge. Discover. Lead.
Give emerging young leaders opportunities to step forward, communicate, collaborate, navigate challenge and recognise their strengths.
Secondary
Lead. Challenge. Inspire.
Deeper experiences focused on leadership, team culture, resilience, wellbeing, mentoring, responsibility and personal growth.
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL EXPERIENCES
Discover Aotearoa/New Zealand through education
Kura Mai Explore welcomes international school groups looking for something deeper than a traditional sightseeing tour.
We create bespoke educational journeys that allow students to experience Aotearoa/New Zealand through its landscapes, communities, culture and people.
Programmes can combine outdoor adventure, school and community connections, cultural learning, environmental experiences, leadership development, English-language opportunities and iconic New Zealand destinations.
Rather than simply travelling through New Zealand, we want students to participate, connect and learn while they're here. Programmes can be created around your school's curriculum, age group, travel dates, interests and desired learning outcomes.
ENGLISH, CULTURE & CONNECTION
Learn English by living it.
For international learners, English development doesn't have to happen solely in a classroom. Kura Mai Explore creates immersive experiences where students practise communication naturally through adventure, everyday interactions, collaborative projects, cultural experiences and connection with local communities.
Students are encouraged to speak, listen, collaborate, ask questions and build confidence using English in authentic situations.
Experience a New Zealand School
A special part of the Kura Mai Explore experience is the opportunity to visit and connect with local schools in Taranaki.
International students can step into a New Zealand learning environment, participate in lessons and activities alongside local ākonga, experience school life in Aotearoa and build genuine connections with young people their own age. It's not simply observing a New Zealand school, it's being part of it.
Programmes may incorporate:
Conversational English | Local School Experiences | Classroom Participation | Outdoor Learning | Cultural Experiences | Team Challenges | Environmental Projects | Creative Learning | Leadership | Wellbeing
It's language learning with a much bigger world around it.
SCHOOL HOLIDAY EXPLORE
Your next adventure starts here.
Kura Mai Explore can also offer hosted school-holiday experiences for international students already living and studying in Taranaki. Each programme provides a new opportunity to get out and explore Aotearoa alongside other young people, supported by experienced educators.
Depending on the adventure, programmes may include accommodation, transport, activities, meals and facilitated experiences.
New holidays. New places. New connections. New stories to take home.
Why choose Kura Mai Explore?
Every programme is designed by experienced educators who understand both learning and learner wellbeing.
Our background in education, leadership, and learning support means we don't simply organise trips we create purposeful educational experiences that engage every learner, nurture belonging, and maximise opportunities for growth.
We partner closely with schools to ensure every experience aligns with your vision, curriculum, and desired outcomes while providing exceptional organisation, safety, and pastoral care.
Our Process
We want to make it easy for you to take your idea through to adventure.
01 | Let's connect
Tell us about your school, learners and the experience you're imagining.
02 | Let's discover
We'll kōrero about your goals, timeframe, group needs, budget and the things that matter most to you.
03 | We create
We develop a tailored programme and transparent proposal for your group.
04 | We refine
Together, we shape the details until the programme feels right.
05 | We prepare
We support the planning process with relevant programme information, preparation resources and documentation.
06 | We explore
Then the best part begins. Our team facilitates the experience alongside your group, helping connect the logistics, learning and adventure.
07 | We reflect
Because the learning shouldn't finish when the experience does. Reflection helps learners recognise what they discovered and how they can take that growth forward.
FOUR ELEMENTS OF KURA MAI EXPLORE
EXPLORE
Experience new places, environments and perspectives through outdoor learning and adventure.
CONNECT
Strengthen relationships with others, ourselves, communities, culture and te taiao/nature.
CHALLENGE
Step beyond the familiar, take positive risks, solve problems and discover new strengths.
GROW
Build confidence, leadership, resilience, self-awareness and skills that travel far beyond the experience itself.
SAFETY, CARE & WELLBEING
Young people come first.
Creating incredible experiences for young people also means taking our responsibility for their care seriously.
Kura Mai Collective is committed to environments students feel safe, respected, included and heard.
Our programmes are led through an educator lens, with careful consideration given to age, group dynamics, individual needs, activity suitability, supervision, wellbeing and safeguarding.
Where programmes involve specialist activities or external providers, we work with appropriate providers and consider the safety requirements relevant to each experience.
Adventure should stretch young people. It should never compromise their sense of safety, dignity or belonging.