PM opening 'boot camp'

A new "boot camp" residential unit on the former Hobsonville air base will be officially opened today by Prime Minister John Key.

The first course in the unit on Marine Parade began two weeks ago with about 140 participants staying in old Air Force barracks.

The boot camp, formally known as the Limited Service Volunteer course, is the expansion of a course run by the Defence Force at Burnham military camp for the past 10 years.

Mr Key and Social Development Minister Paula Bennett announced at last August's National Party conference it would be extended to Auckland and Wellington.

The Defence Force have hired 85 dedicated staff as part of its Youth Development Unit to run the LSV course and two other programmes for young people.

Up to 2000 young people will go through the six-week course this year in one of the three centres.

Trainees aged between 17 and 25 will be able to undertake a six-week residential course in life skills.

The participants will be volunteers referred to the course by Work and Income. They are not offenders.

The Youth Development will also run courses in Auckland for offenders under the Military Activity Camp programme - but not at Hobsonville.

The YDU will also help the 10 Auckland secondary schools that have Service Academies.

The former Hobsonville air base is now a major housing development between a Housing New Zealand Corporation subsidiary and a private developer. It will eventually house 3000 dwellings.