The end of an era - The legendary ‘Mr Mac’ hangs up his pack

Few teachers, especially those who’ve managed 150 teenagers at once in the backcountry for 12 days straight, would say they “feel so blessed and incredibly grateful” to have been a teacher!

Wakatipu High School’s legendary longtime head of outdoor education Ken McIntyre (‘Mr Mac’) does... and he means it.

Retiring next month after an adventure-packed 37-year teaching career – 26 years at Wakatipu High School, Ken’s taught PE and outdoor education to more than 4000 students and safely managed well over 3000 of them through the school’s iconic Year 10 ‘rite of passage’ Branches Camp.

The camp celebrates its 60th anniversary next year, still a highlight decades on for its many grateful participants, but Ken assures he definitely won’t be there. “It’s someone else’s time.”

‘Mr Mac’ has done his time organising and running what has now been split into two groups for shorter stays due to growing numbers. However, he’s confident the safety systems and incredibly experienced team in place will ensure things continue to run smoothly.

The intense Health and Safety paperwork nowadays, most of which wasn’t required when he took his first group to Branches in 2000, has him raising his eyebrows at times. “But that’s only because we have really good people on the ground. We don’t suffer fools lightly. We have very thorough systems in place, and they work well with the outside instructors we bring in to help who conform or don’t get invited back,” Ken says. “Our principal is very good. We don’t want any serious mishaps in our school.”

Thankfully there have been none of those and Ken’s had few memorable moments in which students haven’t towed the line.

“Teenagers are pretty good if you work with them. You don’t give them 100 chances, just two or three. The isolation tent always works well but we really haven’t had to use it that much.”

For him it’s about earning the respect of the students, parents and community. “That’s a really heartfelt thing. You don’t deliberately go looking for that, but those are qualities you’re brought up with. I think Mum would be pleased.”

He’s had the odd student turn up with a laptop looking for a power point in a backcountry hut, girls with copious makeup packed, but the most heartwarming thing is watching the camaraderie and newfound confidence on their return. “When kids are under pressure and hurting others come around them. That’s quite a nice trait of Wakatipu High kids. While in that setting most rise to the occasion.”

Witnessing that sense of accomplishment in the kids, especially the ones who could barely climb Queenstown Hill beforehand, after the likes of the Branches’ gruelling 3-day Lochnagar trip is gold for Ken. “The look on their faces is more than enough reward. It’s amazing.”

‘Mr Mac’s school day never ends at 5pm, whether he’s overnight snow caving on The Remarkables or leading kayaking down the Clutha, often giving up his Saturdays too. “That’s where the learning happens, but my wife, Susan, has been a rock. I’ve had an incredibly supportive wife and family.”

While he expects retirement will mean time to pursue his passion for the environment, clearing wilding pines and assisting volunteer groups, he’s hoping Susan will grant him a “hall pass” to head off kayaking and tramping too. “That’s if my knee holds up,” he says. “I’ve done a lot of mileage on these legs.”