Tikipunga High School Service Academy

The new recruits of the Tikipunga High School Service Academy and two of the old went to the four day bushcraft camp. Well done team👍🏼

Two of our ex Service Academy students Trainee Taingahue and Traniee Apiata following their dreams at QRC, Tai Tokerau Resort College in Paihia.

Our Service Academy was pretty busy last term mentoring the younger students with the help of Staff Makara.

These photos show some of the activity’s that the younger students have been learning and doing so far this term.

-Harris

The Tikipunga High School Service Academy have been busy the last couple weeks with their new director Staff Makara. Preparing year sevens for when they come through to year twelve as new trainees.

-Harris

Kia ora everyone our Tikipunga High School Service Academy page has been quiet lately but the Academy still goes on. We will be updating everyone with whats been happening in a few days with photos and all. So be prepared watch this space.😎

-Harris

The Bat squad outside the old Lions den.

After a most pleasent suprise at the high commisions office three of our veterans went on a trip to see a fellow fallen soldier Adrian Thomas. Thomas was killed in action in 1956 while serving with the NZSAS in malaya but unfortunately wasnt able to be buried back in his whenua o aotearoa, and finally after nearly 40 years of whanau trying to get him back next year is the year. Our veterans despite being told that his burial site at cheras rd christian ceremony was not being looked after the way it should be they thought it was a beautiful site and was glad to see how much it was taken care of. Suprising the veterans once again they found there were more fallen kiwi soldiers at the same site as thomas. With emotions stirring This was an amazing experience for the veterans as they not only visited just one of our soldiers but discovered many more.

Final day today in South East Asia glad to have slept in, but sadly we are returning home tonight but will be in New Zealand tomorrow. There will be a powhiri tomorrow at school at 4:00pm to welcome us back home, bring along your whanau and spread the word.

After impressing the 3 Royal Malay Parachute regiment representative at the Cemetery. He requested clearance (which had earlier been denied) for us to enter Wellington Lines formerly home of 1RNZIR and now home to 3 Paras.

It was granted on the condition that no photos be taken. On arrival we were met by the 2IC of 3 Para's who welcomed our Vets back. We all felt privileged to have been given access and to be met by such a high ranking officer of the Battalion. He took us to the flag station where the inscription acknowledge the time when 1RNZIR were garrisoned there. It was significant to us that the Cap badge on our tokotoko was the same on the flag station.

We were then allowed to visit the various companies within Wellington Lines with Matua Dick now the tour guide. We found it comforting that the main road was still named Waitangi Road.

To complete the visit we presented the Cap badge from our Tokotoko to 3 Para and provided Haka Tautoko to the hand-over.

As we exited Terendak we were also given the opportunity to look for Darcy Bailey's house where he lived during his time there in 1963-64.

This was truly one of the highlights of our tour to date.

On our visit to The Terendak Camp we paid tribute to the memorial where more of our soldiers lay to rest along with other family members such as wives and infants.

Some places of the cemetery did not have any headstones because the bodies of the soldiers were more than lucky to travel back home and be reunited with their loved ones.

Commonwealth Memorial Cemetery. Home to our fallen soldiers. By paying our respects as they rest we gave a small ceremonial tautoko followed by himene, karakia and both the English and Maori ode to show our thanks for their service.
Whilst walking along the gravelines having a quick read about who they were, some of the soldiers headstones weren't quite descriptive of their details for an example, no name, no age, no company which may mean those that found their bodies weren't able to identify who they are.
But god himself will forever know who they are hence the quote "Known Unto God". We were so glad to gain some closure about their service and would like to know more and be able to give more thanks for the past events that has given us the outcome of today.

Walking into the Taiping uru pa there were seven names that held high under the New Zealand soldiers plaque we started our service with Himene Karakia. After that we divided into pairs and in our groups we had one poppy and 1 NewZealand flag so that we could put it on the NZ soldiers grave.
For all the students it was emotional seeing all the fallen soldiers so far from home. Students also payed tribute to Australian by gifting Poppys to their graves . It was a great visit to the uru pa and finishing it with a haka tautoko is a good way to leave.

On the 27th of November our services academy had the opportunity to go and visit The Vietnam Remnants Museum. We entered the building thinking it was just another museum, not being mentally prepared for what we were about to experience. Walking through each stage you could see the emotional effect it had on everyone. Even though the stories that we had read were one sided, our veterans felt as if the war was a waste of time, money and life. Agent orange, war crimes and the imprisonment system had the biggest impact among us all. After witnessing the terrifying pictures of innocent families suffering made each and everyone of us feel grateful for what we have in our country. The museum created an overwhelming feeling that had made us all sad inside. Coming to the end of our visit, we gathered together and shared our thoughts of what the war had inflicted. It brang tears to our eyes as we linked arms joining together as one and finishing off with a karakia. It was a honorable privilege to be alongside our veterans and understand that 'Soldiers don't start wars, governments do'. (There are not many photos because of how hard it was to confront them.)

We arrived at the 161 Battery lines Immediately we felt the heat and adrenaline of the situation. We came across what was a painted rock for the Veterans it was a very emotional spiritual taonga for them. You could feel the comradeship and brotherhood the troops had for each other that they would support the welfare of the team. The troops were highly alert and aware of the noises. We arrived at SAS hill and discovered the heli pad could hold upto 20+ choppers on the ground. The SAS hill became a drop off and pick up point for supplies and useful for evacuating troops on the ground. It was a matter of seconds that the choppers had to get in and our to extent that they were pulling supplies our before choppers would even land.

Makayla this is what has transpired from the challenge you set. We Ruri, Apiata and Leatinuu have visited Nui Dat. This was a very emotional experience because it gave us a deeper understanding although, it did not look as it did many years ago. Makayla we stood where your Papa stood and we could visualize the type of mentality he was forced to live by. Also we heard the operational procedures and the dangers that faced your Papa. As we were listening to the Veterans story we were very cautious of the little things like insects and snakes. But to our soldiers it was the furthest thing from their mind. Makayla we would like to thank you for the opportunity to walk in the foot steps of our soldiers.

At the memorial at long tan the first wave of emotions hit us all when Matua opened the moment with a karanga. “Ko tenei Ao ko te hoki nui”, which means ‘This is the world of beginning.’ We walked in silence as a korowai of wind wrapped around us, bringing us all together as one. We then filed in silently where we were presented with the yellow rose from the government representative Mr.Thuan. The significance of the yellow rose represents peace. The karakia and himene blessed us all before we entered the pinith where we placed our rose in front of the cross. The quiver in our veterans voices, “Nga roimata” fell from us. Our korowai opened and our people who had walked before and for us came under its wings.

Our journey started at school baggage checking, keeping in mind to keep our travel wallets close. Before hopping on the bus we were given our last briefing prior to taking transport to Parihaka. Arriving at the memorial it was quite a buzz to see so many support from friends, family and sponsors. Whilst standing at ease Mare Cheryl Mai was invited to inspect us and in turn she spoke to us individually. She was then invited o address the service academy. The service academy responds by presenting a waiata tautoko. After feeling the awhi from our loved ones we said our last goodbyes, then the engine started the wheels were rolling and we were on our way. Prior to moving through the departure lounge, we were given a rousing farewell from our brothers at Kelston boys high service adcademy. To which we automatically responded with a haka tautoko, with the wairua in the te ao it was a perfect way to depart Aoteroa. After a 10 hour flight we arrived at Singapore airport, we then moved to Ho Chi Minh city to be introduced to our cheesy travel guide Minh. Trying not to die from the heat, Minh and other locals gave us a demonstration on the operation of th Chu Chi Tunnels. A real eye opener to what our Veterans were faced with. The information about the tunnels were unbelievable 250 km of tunnels. Moving to the rifle range it was a great experience to b given the opportunity to shoot AK47s and USM16. To complete this breathtaking day it was nice to put your feet up and relax in the Ho CHi Minh City Lavender hotel and finally e moe!

It has been 18 months since Makayla Haika Kayla Haika delivered a speech to a group of veterans at our 2016 ANZAC Day assembly. Makayla spoke about not knowing that her Papa had served in Vietnam and that she knew nothing of the war before becoming a member of the 2016 Vietnam Class. She posed a number of questions to the veterans of why and what was Vietnam about.

Among the 15 Veterans who attended the assembly that day were Dick Shepard, Wayne Hutchinson and Tubby Nicholl who had served with Makayla’s papa in Vietnam as part of Victor 6 Company. They took Makayla’s speech as a challenge, one which would start us all on a journey to try and travel to Vietnam.

Today we had the privilege of walking with them up onto Nui dat. The site of the Operating Base for NZ Servicemen during the Vietnam War, where they answered the questions that Makayla had asked of them.

Te takahinga o nga Tama Toa……. In the footsteps of warriors.

Karanui Estate fundraising this week painting fences