It’s Te Vaka time
Students face tough training ahead of ‘the longest day’
While most teenagers will be trying to sneak as many extra sleep-in hours as they can over winter, about 30 Year 10 to 13 William Colenso College (WCC) students will be getting up before dawn for the next eight weeks and putting in the hard yards with high-intensity training.
An information evening hosted in the WCC library at the end of last month resulted in some 45 interested students putting their hands up to participate in this year’s Te VakaMāia programme — formerly known as Cactus.
Thirty students have made the cut, with a waiting list in case a position becomes available.
The programme has been running since 2012 and is a collaboration between the students, police, WCC staff, Te Kupenga Hauora and wha¯nau.
“We are very fortunate to have many hands who contribute to this programme by volunteering their time and energy. This shared commitment has been the strength behind the Cactus programme and will also be the strength behind Te Vaka Māia,” transitions coordinator Henry Ballantyne says.
Students train for eight continuous weeks, towards the final goal of “the longest day”.
The longest day involves completing a long-distance course, usually in excess of 30km, with the added challenge of carrying equipment throughout the course.
Students experience additional challenges such as navigation and also a water-based activity.
To complete the longest day, students will pull a truck towards the finish line.
“This year’s longest day will again be in the Ahuriri/Napier region and will include similar elements to previous ‘Cactus’ longest days.
“Some small changes are being developed at the moment, so students from previous years can expect a couple of surprises compared to other events.”
Ballantyne says the name Te Vaka Māia is a great name for this programme.
“It was coined by Sgt Willie Tran. He spotted the word ‘ Māia’ or courage, when visiting William Colenso College not too long ago and thought it wasan appropriate word to develop the new name.
“The ‘Vaka’ or waka captures the idea of everybody being in the same boat, which includes all of the students, alongside the police, Te Kupenga Hauora, the staff of WCC and also the wha¯nau of the students involved.”
He says the training programme itself is also a vehicle for personal growth and development.
“It is another wayto strengthen our school with benefits to the wider community. It gives all students and adults involved the opportunity to embrace the struggle together and experience a feeling of shared success.”