Northland Support Wilderness Experience (NSWE) was a bicultural (White and Maori) wilderness therapy program that operated in New Zealand from 1985 to 1990. NSWE conducted 11 wilderness expeditions per year with approximately 10 participants each, and provided 18-month followups for participants, parents, and significant others. Participants were aged 13-29; were at risk of being caught in destructive or self-destructive lifestyles; were referred by welfare departments, the courts, schools, or other sources; and participated voluntarily. Expeditions were demanding 10-day outdoor experiences characterized by extensive group meetings, group guidance and counseling, and group monitoring of participant behavior. This paper outlines aspects of the following program elements: (1) roles within the leadership team; (2) participant preparation and group building activities; (3) group development of a behavior agreement establishing behavior boundaries, group goals, consequences for breaking the agreement, and guidelines for participation and safety; (4) sharing power and control with participants, including the role and tasks of the day leader appointed each day by the group; (5) group activities and learning sessions for "korero time" (talk time); and (6) empowerment for participants, employees, and program administrators. (SV)