Students from Wairoa College and Ngata College Services Academies and the Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti Trades Academy Services programme will test their skills, fitness and resilience in a competition based in Mahia this week.
The competition, organised by EIT’s School of Trades and Technology will take place tomorrow and Thursday (18-19 September).
EIT Trades and Technology Head of School, Todd Rogers, says the competition is an opportunity to test the skills the students have been taught in the programme throughout the year.
The competition consists of groups from each academy tackling a 15km course carrying Army packs, logs, steel bars and completing tasks along the way such as a carrying an “injured” person up Mokotahi hill and pushing a vehicle 1km with all their equipment.
Students must navigate to each point throughout the night, with the competition beginning at 5pm and finishing no later than 3am.
“This is the first time an event of this nature combining all academies has been facilitated in our region hopefully we can make it an annual event,” says Todd.
“Not only will these activities test the individuals’ skills and fitness, it will require them to work together and back each under extreme conditions.”
“All the courses are greatly supported by New Zealand Defence Force recruiting (Defence Careers) and the NZ Police in Mahia and Gisborne.”
“We are looking forward seeing these youngsters show what they are made of.”