Youth to benefit from Real Journeys Cruise-for-a-Cause 2016

Media Release

Real Journeys annual Cruise-for-a-Cause will go towards helping young Kiwi conservationists around the country and students at Queenstown’s only high school - Wakatipu High.   

Forest & Bird and the Wakatipu High School Foundation were chosen from thirty applicants.  Each receives an entire overnight cruise in Doubtful or Milford Sound to use as a fundraiser.  Both cruises include dinner, breakfast and water activities.  Although Real Journeys will sell the tickets, the organisations set their own prices and keep 100% of the proceeds raised. 

Cruise-for-a-Cause 2016

The Wakatipu High School Foundation has the Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise on the 27 August to help fund its initiatives to support students and families at the school, including the Awhi (financial hardship) fund.

“There’s plenty in the media at the moment about the cost of housing and the difficulties faced by members of our community.  The Wakatipu High School Foundation does a lot of good work assisting those families that have children at the high school, and is able to make a real difference,” says Richard Lauder, Real Journeys Chief Executive.  

Forest & Bird hopes the Milford Sound Overnight Cruise on Saturday 17 September, will enable it to cover the costs of training and supporting the volunteers who run its Kiwi Conservation Club.

“Kiwi Conservation Club encourages children to explore the great outdoors, to love our wildlife and wild places and to grow up wanting to save and protect all of New Zealand’s incredible environment. Each year we provide opportunities to connect over 5,000 children with nature. With support from Real Journeys, we will be able to inspire even more young people to become conservation leaders of tomorrow,” says Hone McGregor, Chief Executive, Forest & Bird.

“Kiwi Conservation Club encourages children to explore the great outdoors, to love our wildlife and wild places and to grow up wanting to save and protect all of New Zealand’s incredible environment.  Each year we provide opportunities to connect over 5,000 children with nature.  With support from Real Journeys, we will be able to inspire even more young people to become conservation leaders of tomorrow,” says Hone McGregor, Chief Executive, Forest & Bird.

Richard Lauder says there’s shared history in conservation with Forest & Bird which worked alongside Real Journeys’ founders Les and Olive Hutchins in the campaign to save Lake Manapouri.

Once details have been finalised, tickets for both cruises will be available from Real Journeys from 4 June (Queen’s Birthday weekend).    

Real Journeys launched the initiative last year as a way to help raise funds for a good cause whilst providing a ‘dress rehearsal’ for its pre-season staff training.  Last year’s two recipients raised over $26,000.

For further information contact:

Tsehai Tiffin - Real Journeys Corporate Communications Manager
Mobile: +64 21 523 899
Email: [email protected]