Welcoming a Longtime Supporter to Our Community

We recently welcomed a very special guest to our headquarters: Nick White, the owner of Luxury Trail Company and a dedicated supporter of I Have a Dream. Since 2019, Nick has generously donated three guided tours of the Otago Rail Trail to groups of our senior Dreamers, creating unforgettable experiences for our rangatahi over the years whenever the opportunity has arisen.

Nick made the journey north hoping to catch up with some of the Dreamers who will be heading out on this year’s life-changing South Island trip. He plays a massive role in making this adventure happen, personally funding all accommodation, expert tour guidance, and bikes for the first leg of their journey.

Nick first discovered I Have a Dream while listening to broadcaster Duncan Garner on the radio. Inspired by what he heard, he looked up the programme and connected with founder Scott Gilmour. Having searched for a meaningful way to support young people for some time, Nick decided it was the most proactive initiative he’d encountered.

After reading about “engaged philanthropy” and reflecting on his own school years, when key teachers helped him through a few strained periods, Nick knew he wanted to get involved.

After initially supporting I Have a Dream as a donor, he then approached Scott Gilmour with an incredible offer: to fund the costs for a group of Dreamers to experience the Otago Rail Trail in the South Island. Scott jumped at the chance, and the inaugural trip for senior Tikipunga High School Dreamers took off in 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic put the trip on pause for a few years, with another group of Dreamers getting to experience the trail again in 2024.

During his recent northern trip, Nick toured the I Have a Dream HQ, met with Tikipunga High School principal Emma Leyland, and dropped in on a Girls Group after school programme run by Navigators Lucia Kotze and Rose Welsh and held Te Ora Hou – one of I Have a Dream Whangārei’s local partner youth charities.

Nick slotted right into the group, engaging in deep conversations with the young Dreamers. One student even jokingly remarked that Nick must have been a philosopher in a past life! He shared his own story, emphasising how international travel opened his eyes, drove him to learn new languages, and led him into the tourism industry, ultimately altering his path forever.

“One of the key things to remember is that on your journey, you’re going to come across so many more opportunities and interests. You just need your eyes and ears open, and be able to listen out for what’s around you, to see what opportunities are there,” Nick added. Don’t worry about anything, just be you. Just do you. Just go and embrace it.”

To maximise the impact of the South Island Trip, the final few days see the Dreamers transition from the trail to academia, when they will travel to Dunedin to experience life at the University of Otago, staying in student accommodation and meeting with tutors, lecturers, and current undergraduates. This vital glimpse into tertiary life has already inspired several past Dreamers to enrol at the University.

The entire South Island experience is carefully structured around three core pillars designed to empower our rangatahi. Through tackling a demanding three-day physical and mental challenge, students build confidence, resilience, and self-belief while learning the true value of teamwork. For many, the trip is also a way to expand horizons and future pathways, marking their first time experiencing the South Island or stepping onto a university campus. This experience opens their eyes to a whole new world of possibilities. Beneath it all, navigating the trail together helps strengthen connection, identity, and aspiration, deepening the bonds between the Dreamers and their Navigators to foster a lasting sense of belonging and spark high aspirations.

Lucia supported the 2024 trip and will be once again travelling alongside Year 13 Navigator Te Aranga Hopa and Scott Gilmour in December this year. She proudly told Nick that this year’s group is “next level” and highly motivated, even driving their own student-led fundraising plans to maximise the opportunity.

Nick responded that he and his team have plenty of surprises and activities planned beyond cycling this year, including extending the trail length to a challenging 150 kilometres over three days. Seeing Lucia’s reaction to the extra-long trail, he joked that they could supply her with an e-bike to keep up, but the Dreamers will be tackling it “old school” on acoustic bikes.

Throughout the entire journey, the Dreamers will be visually capturing their highlights and writing personal blogs to document their life-changing experiences. We cannot wait to follow along on their journey this December!