The InZone project started in 2011 under the United Māori Mission with the objective of providing opportunities to students who are potential leaders within their community and in the economic, political and social framework of Aotearoa New Zealand.

The InZone Education Foundation was established in 2014 and our core purpose remains the same.

We currently run two hostels which are “InZone” for top performing schools Auckland Grammar and Epsom Girls’ Grammar. We work in partnership with both schools to ensure students are immersed in the community with high expectations and a focus on achievement in their academic, sporting and cultural activities.

Our kāinga (hostels) provide a supportive, whānau environment with a Māori and Christian kaupapa to foster the strength of character needed for leadership.

With the support of our cornerstone funders we have continued to enhance our offering – by formalising and strengthening our Tikanga Māori program and resourcing additional academic support.

Increasingly whānau are looking for opportunities to build on the cultural capacity of their tamariki and we now offer regular kapa haka and tikanga sessions, noho marae with associated wānanga and exposure to Te reo.

Other opportunities embedded within the InZone kaupapa include including goal setting, career advice, academic tutoring, mentoring, training in financial literacy and public speaking, inter-denominational Christian pastoral care and visits from inspirational speakers.

This level of care comes at a cost, and we need to raise at least $8,000 per year for each student to make up the shortfall between actual costs and whānau fees, and to ensure that InZone is accessible to as many families as possible.

The InZone programme is only able to be achieved in partnership with an extensive network of supporters including charitable trusts, businesses and individual donors. The Friends of InZone programme, launched in October 2018 aims to connect those donors more closely with InZone, by sharing our news with them and hosting an annual Friends event.

InZone students have already punched above their weight in producing prefects and sporting and cultural leaders well out of proportion to our numbers at both schools.

I invite you to look through our website, discover our history, who our staff and students are and see examples of the impact of InZone in action.

Ngā mihi