Tony Baldwin
Business | Policy
 
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     

New Zealand United World College Trust

Updated in August 2008

This is a non-profit charitable trust formed to establish in New Zealand a United World College (UWC), of which Tony is the chairperson. A short summary of the project is set out below. For more information, visit our web site at www.uwc.org.nz

There are 12 existing UWC's around the world. The UWC movement is highly regarded, and has enjoyed strong support from a range of prominent international figures, including Nelson Mandela, Prince Charles and former Canadian Prime Minister and Nobel Peace laureate, Lester Pearson.

Key Features

Features of a UWC include:

  • Bringing together around 200 outstanding students from around the world to live and work together for the last two years of their secondary education
  • A rigorous two-year academic programme, concluding with the International Baccalaureate exam, which is recognised by the world's most prestigious universities
  • A commitment to humanitarian and environmental values, with students undertaking significant community and environmental service projects as part of their UWC programme, and
  • Student selection based on merit, with full scholarship funding for each student provided by the host college.


people

Location for New Zealand UWC

The NZ UWC is to be established at Paradise, a magnificent 128 hectare property near Glenorchy. We have memorandum of understanding with Paradise Trust, which owns the property, to make 35 hectares available for the NZ UWC.

Paradise Trust is the custodian of this stunningly beautiful property, located one hour from Queenstown on the edge of Te Waahi Pounamu World Heritage Park. Paradises Trust’s aims are to protect and conserve this precious environment, while encouraging sustainable educational and recreational use.

 

view of site

View north from United World College site at Paradise

Key People

Our Founder Patron is the Rt Hon Jim Bolger, ONZ. Mr Bolger was Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1990 until 1997, and New Zealand's Ambassador to the United States 1998-2002. He is now chairman of Kiwibank and NZ Post. Mr Bolger is also currently chairman of the NZ-US Business Council, and chairman of the World Agricultural Forum

"This is an outstanding opportunity for New Zealand to play an important role on the world stage where it really counts - with our next generation of international leaders."

Rt Hon Jim Bolger, ONZ, Founder Patron NZ UWC

Jim Bolger

NZ UWC is led by a strong Board of Directors. Tony is Chairperson. John Hilhorst is Executive Director.

The directors are supported by a talented Advisory Group

The Trust’s solicitors are Chapman Tripp. Our accountants are McCulloch Partners. Our auditors are Ernst + Young.

Arrow International is our Project Manager. Terralink is providing mapping and surveying services.

Outward Bound is New Zealand’s best known provider of experiential education and one of its most respected brands. Outward Bound has partnered with us to help develop our adventure and leadership programmes, and to coordinate delivery of Outward Bound programmes from our campus.

 

Benefits to New Zealand

A United World College offers a range of significant strategic benefits to New Zealand, in particular:

  • Projecting New Zealand to future young leaders across the globe
  • Forge invaluable relationships that extend and strengthen New Zealand’s connections to places of learning, trade, culture and friendship around the world, and
  • Establish New Zealand as an international centre of excellence in global leadership development for young people

John Allen, CEO NZ Post, has stated:

“There is a real opportunity to leverage our people capability, landscape, and heritage of country to create something remarkable – something the world will look to and learn from.”

The directors of NZ UWC Trust believe this project is such an opportunity.

Partners and supporters

This project is gaining support from a range of individuals and organisations, in particular the School of Architecture at Victoria University, Terralink NZ, Chapman Tripp, Sweeney Vesty, Central Lakes Trust, Paradise Trust, Sir Roy MacKenzie, Rockgas, and Contact Energy.

If you are interested in providing assistance or receiving updates, please contact Tony Baldwin, John Hilhorst, or any of the directors.

Further Information

Contact details

John Hilhorst,
Executive Director
19 Willow Place,
Queenstown 9300
New Zealand
Tel: (03) 4422-306
Fax: (03) 422-369
Mobile: 0274 9000 88
Email: john.hilhorst@uwc.org.nz

Media

UWC International

The Honorary President of UWC International is Nelson Mandela, one of only four honorary roles Mr Mandela has retained in his retirement.

"Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the child of farm workers can become the President of a great nation".

Nelson Mandela, long-time supporter and honorary president, UWC International

Nelson Mandela

 

 

UWC logo

 

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