Earlier that day, the students in 3 teams had endured a marathon test of stamina and endurance starting at Forest Lakes, culminating in a big log-carrying gut-buster from the Otaki Surf Club to the college.
CACTUS (Combined Adolescent Challenge Training Unit Support) a police initiative started in Hokitika in 1998, has spread through Aotearoa. It provides community-based support and personal development for school students from years 10-13. This is the first time in Otaki, and won’t be the last.
On the wettest evening of the year, we assembled in the Otaki College gymnasium to witness the end of the eight week CACTUS course. Proud parents, brother and sisters, teachers and friends witnessed 23 disciplined and enthusiastic students receive their awards.
CACTUS Drill
A cast of stars
Brodhi Archibald
Sean Byers-Cook
Jamie Cook
Hendrix Doughty-Babbington
Claudia Graham
Timor Jopson-Caldwell
Tevita Kata
Ashleigh Lakomy
Erin McArley
Suayd McMeekin Receiving an award
Cameron Lafrentz
Rebecca Neill
Justice Pu’e
Tarah Ratai
Taara Rice
Lana Richardson
Hemaima Rikihana
Sean Squires
Nicholas Su
Rhyna Tawhara-Clode
Grace Teu
Zyre Van de Wiel-Milina
Hawea Winterburn
The CACTUS course runs for eight weeks, Monday, Wednesday & Friday starting at 6am. Lateness results in everyone doing 5 press-ups for every minute of lateness. Everyone learned the value of punctuality! Every day involved Drill, PT, fitness measurement, shower, breakfast and a motivational speaker.
At the Awards Ceremony we watched an eight minute video that encapsulated the eight week course. Errol Maffey’s professional production allowed us to see what the students had been through. Each student will receive a DVD of their experience to remind them of their course.
Three of the students reflected on how they had found the course.
Erin McArley
‘It was Mum’s idea. I thought I’d better make something of it. Setting small goals helped me get through the journey. I enjoyed the speakers after breakfast. I learned about the wide range of careers that I hadn’t known about. I’m grateful to my family for the opportunity to experience CACTUS’. Erin McArley
Cameron Lafrentz
‘Getting up at 5, at school at 6, three days a week, didn’t want to be late, because that meant pushups for all. I wanted to get fit, wanted to be pushed. When I leave school, I want to apply for the Army. The support from my parents was a big part of CACTUS. I enjoyed the experience very much’. Cameron Lafrentz
Jamie Cook
‘Waking up at 5 was a bit of a challenge. My body became adjusted to PT, I enjoyed the support both from the CACTUS team, and my parents. Eventually I began to enjoy the teamwork and the training. It opened my eyes to avenues that I didn’t know existed’. Jamie Cook
Otaki College’s Deputy Head Hamish Wood, reflected on the programme
Hamish Wood
‘Who would have thought that they could have been at school doing PE at 6am? I was impressed with the dedication and attitude of all the students, who all finished the course. CACTUS builds resilience, application and commitment, sets goals and teaches how to achieve them. Now the challenge is to use what they’ve learned. I’m sure they will.’
Inspector Sarah Stewart
Police Inspector Sarah Stewart
The final speaker, Police Inspector Sarah Stewart congratulated the students on their incredible achievement in completing the programme. ‘Potential leaders will emerge, you have become great friends and a tight team, and you will remember in later life how it has bound you together.
Big thanks to Terry Moore and his Police team who gave up many hours to run the course. Thanks, too to New World, who provided the breakfasts to sustain the team, and to Errol Maffey who documented the CACTUS experience.
Twenty three Otaki College students (13 girls, 10 boys) will remember CACTUS as a positive life-changing experience.
CACTUS — The Longest day in pictures
It began with a briefing in the Forest Lakes shearing shed. Three teams were going to undergo a simulated survival test ‘in the Tararuas’
First they had to navigate their way through a morass of toxic waste
Then they had to build a shelter, then survive a simulated rainstorm
Then make a fire and cook a meal. A little artistic licence allowed marshmallows comprise the meal!
Then they had to build boats out of cardboard
Launch the boat
and navigate across a lake
all to the highest health & Safety standards!
Then a footrace to the Surf Club
And finally the teams had to carry a huge log back to college
…carrying the log …
…Tasman Rd …
Back at the college, in pouring rain, the weary teams were welcomed with a resounding haka
Those who made it happen
Snr Constable Terry Moore — Otaki Police
Constable Callam Nikora — Otaki Police
Sergeant Slade Sturmey — Otaki Police
Fitness trainers Nikora Te Wiata & Joseph Te Wiata — House of Hope
Errol Maffey — Media man
Anne Hagan — Nutritionist
Sponsors and Supporters
Central PHO
New World Otaki
Marlan Trading
Hammer Hardware
Otaki Fire Brigade
Top Brand Shoe outlet
NIMLIN Productions
After Breakfast Guest Speakers (*ex Otaki College)
Staff Sergeant Leon Kingi*, NZ Army
Constable Shane Durston, Police Dog Handler
Paul Ferguson, Police Dive Squad
Joseph Te Wiata*, Body & Soul
Adam White, Paraparaumu Fire Brigade
Dr Lincoln Nicholls*, Orthapaedic surgeon
Oriwia Raureti* Te Wananga o Raukawa
Mereana Selby*, Te Wananga o Raukawa
Penny Gaylor, Otaki’s KCDC councillor
Michael Kainga & Leni Apisai, Hurricanes
Selica Winiata, NZ Police, Black Ferns
Kelly Chapman & Bronwyn Boele van Hensbroek,
Kapiti Youth Support
Awards
Top overall student, Lana Richardson receives her award from Central PHO sponsor Shona Urquart-Bevan. Sgt Slade Sturmey assists, Constable Terry Moore at the microphone