Geared for career in forces

Northland College Military Academy students on their way to a camp at Mitimiti. Photo / Supplied

Northland College has started a new initiative aimed at preparing students for a career in the New Zealand Defence Force.

While the college says the programme for Year 10-13 students will also be geared to employment in other public service areas, it is called the Northland College Military Academy.

Director Pi Ne Joyce, an ex-officer with the New Zealand Cadet Forces, said: "The academy is about trust, honour, respect, excellence, attitude and development.

"We learn, develop and incorporate role models for our school, our wider community and our nation."

School principal Jim Luders said the academy's benefits would go far beyond its primary goals of pre-employment preparation.

He said teachers of other subjects had remarked on the team work, discipline and focus the academy students had brought to their lessons.

Academy student Justin Moka, 16, described the programme as "awesome".

"There's no distractions, no mucking around and that means we can achieve better," he said.

He hopes to sign up for the navy when he has finished school.

Fifteen-year-old Tautoro Matene said his grandfather had served in Vietnam and he wanted to follow in his footsteps in the defence force.

Phoenix Witehira, a student leader in the academy's Charlie Syndicate, said he had been inspired by movies to have a military career, while Tella Donnelly would like to join the New Zealand Police Force.

Fifteen academy students recently spent a week away in camp, hosted at Mitimiti's Matihetihe Marae and joined by Panguru Area School, to develop the spirit of adventure and teamwork.