Innovation, collaboration and a commitment to making outdoor adventure accessible for local tamariki and rangatahi are putting The Y Hawke’s Bay on the map!
We are absolutely thrilled that our Outdoor Adventure Hub at Mitre 10 Park has been recognised in two major sport and recreation awards for 2026!
The Hub has been named a finalist in the 2026 Recreation Aotearoa Awards – Outstanding Project Under $500,000 category, and the 2026 Forsyth Barr Hawke’s Bay Sport and Recreation Awards – Innovation in Sport and Active Recreation category.
For a relatively small community organisation like The Y Hawke’s Bay, being recognised alongside some fantastic projects from across the region and Aotearoa is an incredible achievement.
But what makes this recognition particularly special is that it celebrates the very idea behind the Outdoor Adventure Hub: creating something new, affordable and meaningful for our community by making better use of the resources we already have.
Innovation Doesn't Have to Mean Expensive
When we first started developing the Outdoor Adventure Hub, our vision was simple. We wanted to create more opportunities for Hawke’s Bay tamariki and rangatahi to experience outdoor adventure without the significant costs, travel and logistical challenges that can sometimes prevent schools and families from accessing these activities.
Rather than building an expensive new facility from scratch, we looked at what already existed in our community and how we could bring those resources together.
Working alongside Mitre 10 Park and our community partners, we have transformed existing facilities and equipment into a multi-activity outdoor adventure destination right in the heart of Hawke’s Bay.
By making use of the existing canoe polo pools, restoring and relocating a climbing wall, developing orienteering activities and investing in equipment and staff training, we have created a facility offering rock climbing, kayaking, rafting, archery, orienteering and team-building experiences, all in one location.
The innovation isn't necessarily in the activities themselves. It's in how we've brought them together, made them affordable and created a new opportunity for local young people to experience them.
Our programmes are designed to accommodate small groups, individual classes and even entire school year groups, with full-day adventure experiences starting from just $25 per child.
For schools, this creates an accessible, affordable alternative or addition to traditional outdoor education experiences, without needing to travel outside the region.
From an Idea to a Fully Booked Programme!
Perhaps the most exciting part of this journey has been seeing the response from our local schools.
At the beginning of 2026, the Outdoor Adventure Hub was little more than an idea, with our team testing activities, developing safety systems and working through the challenges of getting a new facility operational.
Fast forward to November, and our school programme calendar is now fully booked for the remainder of 2026!
We've welcomed hundreds of young people through the Hub, and the response from schools, teachers and students has been fantastic.
This demand highlights something we have believed from the beginning: there is a real need in Hawke’s Bay for affordable, accessible outdoor adventure opportunities.
Whether it's a student reaching the top of the climbing wall for the first time, a group working together to navigate a raft across the pool, or a young person discovering a new activity they never thought they would get to try, these are the experiences that make the project worthwhile.
And with bookings already being taken for 2027, we're excited about continuing to grow what we can offer.
A Community Project Built Through Partnerships
One of the biggest reasons we've been able to achieve so much with relatively limited resources is the incredible support we've received from across our community.
The Outdoor Adventure Hub has always been a collaborative project.
Our partnership with Mitre 10 Park has provided the foundation for the Hub, allowing us to activate existing facilities and create new opportunities within the Regional Sports Park.
We've also been fortunate to work alongside organisations including Hawke’s Bay Canoe Polo, Orienteering Hawke’s Bay, Sport Hawke’s Bay and local schools, whose support, advice and expertise have helped shape the programme.
Financial and practical support from organisations including the Lion Foundation, Firstlight Foundation, Sport Hawke’s Bay, Tūpiki Trust and the New Zealand Great War Memorial Soldiers Trust has helped us purchase equipment, restore facilities, develop safety systems and train our staff.
We've also received fantastic support from businesses and outdoor organisations including Direct Earth, Hillary Outdoors, Burnsco, Aspiring and others who have contributed equipment, expertise, services and practical assistance.
Our wider Y whānau, particularly the teams at Y Central and Y North, have also generously shared their outdoor education knowledge and experience.
Every contribution, whether financial, practical or simply someone giving their time and expertise, has helped turn an ambitious idea into a functioning outdoor adventure facility.
This is a great example of what can happen when community organisations work together, share resources and focus on achieving a common goal.
A Huge Thank You to Our Team
While the awards recognise the Outdoor Adventure Hub as a project, behind every successful project are the people who make it happen.
Getting the Hub operational has been no small undertaking.
From relocating and refurbishing the climbing wall to developing activity programmes, completing staff training, preparing safety documentation, undertaking audits and finally delivering programmes to hundreds of young people, there has been an enormous amount of work behind the scenes.
Our team has embraced the challenge of developing something completely new, often stepping outside their usual roles, learning new skills and putting in the extra effort needed to get things off the ground.
A massive thank you to all our Y Hawke’s Bay staff, past and present, who have contributed to the project. Your enthusiasm, flexibility and commitment have made this possible.
These award nominations are very much a reflection of your hard work.
Just the Beginning
We're incredibly proud of what we've achieved in such a short space of time, but we're even more excited about what comes next.
The Outdoor Adventure Hub is about more than climbing walls, kayaks and archery targets.
It's about creating opportunities for young people to challenge themselves, build confidence, develop teamwork and discover what they're capable of.
It's also about demonstrating that innovation doesn't always require a huge budget or brand-new infrastructure. Sometimes it simply takes a good idea, a willingness to do things differently and a community prepared to work together.
To our staff, funders, sponsors, community partners, schools and everyone who has supported the Outdoor Adventure Hub, thank you.
We're absolutely thrilled to receive this recognition, and we're looking forward to seeing where the next stage of the adventure takes us!
Want to bring your school or community group to the Outdoor Adventure Hub in 2027?
We're now taking bookings for 2027, with programmes available for small groups, classes and whole year groups.
Find out more at The Y Outdoor Adventure Hub or email outdoors@ymcahb.org.nz.