Aspiring astronaut shares dreams

Carterton School pupils will today speak online with Kiwi rocket scientist Mana Vautier, whose greatest ambition is to be the first Maori in outer space.

Melanie MacGregor, Carterton School Room 12 teacher, said the digital conversation was part of a motivational campaign the Sir Peter Blake Trust Dream Team was aiming at young Kiwis.

She said Mr Vautier, Tuhourangi, is an inspiring Kiwi leader and member of the 300-strong Dream Team, some members of which will this week speak via Skype to classrooms throughout the country to inspire young Kiwis to "dare, dream, do", which is the theme of the 2013 Sir Peter Blake Trust Leadership Week.

"The Dream Team provides an amazing opportunity for our children to hear from leaders like Mana Vautier who are carrying on Sir Peter's legacy of mobilising the next generation of young leaders and, through sharing their personal experiences, can inspire our students to take action towards realising their own goals and dreams," Ms MacGregor said.

"We believe Mana will be our first Maori astronaut in the near future."

Mr Vautier has had the enduring goal of one day becoming an astronaut throughout his career. He attended St Kentigern College and university in Auckland before studying at Brigham Young University in Utah, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Astronomy.

In 2008 he completed a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering at Auburn University in Alabama and for several years has worked as an aerospace engineer with a company contracted to Nasa in Texas.

Ms MacGregor said Mr Vautier will also today share "dream cards" with Year 12 students, on which they can write down their own dream, as well as their goals and aspirations for New Zealand.

The trust also has developed online action plans, Ms MacGregor said, which older students could use "to help convert their dreams into action".

Leading the Dream Team this year is New Zealand Governor-General, Lt Gen The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae, who became involved with the campaign because he wanted to encourage young New Zealanders to "dream big, dream often and go after their dreams".

The Governor-General is joined in the campaign by psychologist and TV host Nigel Latta, entrepreneur Sir Ray Avery, TVNZ Breakfast presenters Rawdon Christie and Toni Street, athletes Hamish Carter and Beatrice Faumuina and a wide range of New Zealand scientists, adventurers, CEOs and business leaders, politicians and community champions.

Shelley Campbell, Sir Peter Blake Trust CEO, said the response from people who heard about the initiative had been amazing, with the email invitation to join the Dream Team "going viral" among leadership networks and boosting the team to 300, more than double the original target.

Sir Peter Blake Trust Leadership Week began with the Trust's annual Leadership Awards last Friday, when the prestigious Blake Medal was presented, along with six Sir Peter Blake Leadership Awards.

The week concludes with Red Socks Day on Friday.

The full list of Dream Team members is available on the Sir Peter Blake Trust website -

http://www.sirpeterblaketrust.org.