For more than 35 years, the Taranaki Outdoor Pursuits and Education Centre (TOPEC) has helped shape generations of Taranaki learners through the power of outdoor education. Located at the base of Mount Taranaki alongside the Waiwhakaiho River, TOPEC has become an iconic cornerstone for schools across the region.

Now, as demand for its programmes continues to grow, TOPEC is looking to the future with plans to build a new community lodge, a modern, sustainable facility designed to meet the needs of the next generation.

“For me, and I know most people in the region, TOPEC was a foundational experience in my education,” says Project Ambassador Conrad Smith. “Outdoor pursuits have always been such a special part of living in Taranaki and our identity as Kiwis. We love nature, our environment and the life lessons learned from being outdoors. That’s why I strongly support this project, to ensure those experiences are enjoyed for generations to come our kids get the same experience we did.”

 

Meeting a Growing Need

Each year, TOPEC hosts up to 100 students a day and services 51 schools from across the region. As a Category One Private Training Establishment, the highest rating achievable for both academic delivery and pastoral care, TOPEC plays a vital role in supporting education, wellbeing, and workforce readiness through tertiary-level and NCEA outdoor and environmental courses, 3-day and week-long camps, and key courses for children such as Riversafe and Bushsafe.

But with programmes at capacity and facilities bursting at the seams, the need for a larger lodge and classroom has become pressing. To be sustainable for the long-term, TOPEC needs to meet the growing demand for quality outdoor learning experiences.

“For many years, TOPEC has played a vital role in the education and wellbeing of our students,” says Sam Moore, Headmaster of New Plymouth Boys’ High School and TOPEC Schools Lead. “The facilities have served us well but are now in need of renewal. The new lodge will not only enhance capacity and safety, but provide modern, accessible catering and teaching spaces that reflect the high standards of education we aspire to for our young people.”

Building for the Future

The proposed new TOPEC Lodge will expand capacity, provide flexible all-weather spaces, multiple learning areas, and open opportunities for community, corporate, and organisational use. It will be environmentally sustainable and designed to serve the region well into the future.

A new lodge for TOPEC will deliver more capacity, flexible all-weather spaces, multiple learning areas, corporate use opportunities, sustainability and future-proofing.

Construction is planned for 2026, with a total project cost of $1.7 million. Of this, $1.1 million has already been secured through generous grants from Toi Foundation ($1M) and NZCT ($100,000), leaving a $600,000 funding gap. TOPEC, supported by the Taranaki Foundation and NP Partners, has now launched a community campaign to help close that gap and ensure the project can go ahead.

“We’re proud of the legacy TOPEC has built, serving schools from all around the maunga for more than three decades,” says Christine (Grover) Worsfold, TOPEC Director. “Demand has never been higher, and we need to grow to keep pace. A new lodge will help us deliver more programmes to more people and continue the hands-on learning experiences that change lives.”

Taranaki Foundation Chief Executive, Josh Hickford, says the Foundation in collaboration with NP Partners, TOPEC and core funding partners is proud to be spearheading the fundraising efforts for what he describes as an intergenerational community project. “TOPEC holds a special place in the hearts of many Taranaki families. It’s somewhere that shaped our childhoods, taught us about resilience and teamwork, and connected us to our mountain. We’re proud to be working alongside TOPEC to ensure those experiences continue for generations to come.”

NP Partners Lead, John Leuthart, says TOPEC is a highly valued community asset and programme that has benefitted generations of Taranaki youth. “Fifteen companies and organisations have stepped up to support TOPEC’s day-to-day operations, enabling it to focus on the new lodge build and secure its future,” he says. “NP Partners is our unique public–private partnership forum and programme for business and community leaders. Partner-led and NPDC-managed, we’re committed to investing locally to deliver greater community value and impact.”

A Call to the Community

TOPEC and the Taranaki Foundation are inviting local families, businesses, and community members to contribute to the future of outdoor education in the region. Join the TOPEC team.

“TOPEC has shaped so many of us,” says Conrad Smith. “Now it’s our turn to help shape its future.”

 

Click here to learn more about the project and how to contribute.