The Silver candidates completed the first of their two
expeditions in May. The expedition required the
students to complete the Tongariro Northern Circuit
which circumnavigates Mount Ngauruhoe.
For the first time in the history of Duke of Edinburgh
at HNHS the group required the assistance of
Search and Rescue NZ. Jack Warren rolled his ankle
during an afternoon jaunt up a peak close to the
Oturere Hut. After being carried back to the hut and
fed a hearty mix of painkillers and dinner, Jack endured an uncomfortable evening of very little sleep.
In the morning, with an ankle the size of a softball,
the Search and Rescue helicopter was called and
Jack was evacuated to Taupo hospital. The rest of the
group completed the tramp and are currently preparing for their final expedition which will take place in
Auckland’s Waitakere Ranges in December.
Duke of Edinburgh Silver
Back Row:
Harriet Broadhurst, Arran Cargill-Brown, Jake Talbot, Jack
Warren, Sophia Peterson
2nd Row: Milly Douglas, Anna Bennett, Brooke Hughes, Lara Dalldorf, Charlotte
Bell, Mr J Wilton (Coach)
Front Row:
Katelyn van der Gulik, Georgia Rathbone, Anton Edilson,
Victoria Jackson, Meg Gallen
Absent: Hamish Talbot, Olivia Addis, Ella Knobloch
At the highest level of the challenge, we commend
Callum Wilkie, Charles Talbot and Charlotte Reay
for completing their Gold Award at the time of
writing this article. Candidates at the Gold level
are required to offer a considerable amount of
community service and it was fantastic that
Kaitlyn Jackson was recognised for her work
at Cranford Hospice by the Governor General
Lieutenant General the Right Honourable Sir Jerry
Mateparae. Kaitlyn was invited to attend a special
ceremony at Government House recognising the
contribution volunteers make to communities
around New Zealand.
Group Duke of Edinburgh Gold
Back Row: Andrew Breen, Alice Wake, Bayley Thomsen, Robert Barker,
Charlotte Reay, Abbey Coram-O’Kane, Caitlin Jones
2nd Row: Nathan Miller, Alex Harding, Jack Roberts, William Wallace,
Heath Dinneen, Liam Millar, Callum Wilkie, Mr J. Wilton (Coach)
Front Row: Olivia Broadhurst, Aimee Somerville, Lauren Bell, Paris Mayberry,
Nina Lesperance, Imogen Moore, Madison Chu
Absent: Charles Talbot