Mount Aspiring College is a secondary school in Wanaka, New Zealand. It was founded in 1989 after the division of Wanaka Area School. It is a state-run, co-educational school. The college, though normally a day school, operates a hostel beside the school grounds for 30 Year 13 students, who usually come to Mount Aspiring in order to attend its well-known Outdoor Pursuits programme. The school has a reputation in New Zealand as a modern, dynamic institution. It is also noted for its rapid growth in its roll, usually attributed to the Outdoor Pursuits programme and the population explosion of Wanaka, and in its academic achievement. In June 2007 Maurie Jackways went on leave to work as an advisor to Otago University for five months, later extended to a full year. Wayne Bosley, the Deputy Principal, served as the Acting Principal until August 2008. In the school newsletter of April 16, 2008, Maurie Jackways announced his resignation as Principal, effective July 18, 2008, and thus did not return to the job at the end of his leave period. On August 11, 2008, Board of Trustees chairman Grant Ruddenklau announced the unanimous appointment of Wayne Bosley as the new Principal.