Westlake Boys’ students praised for rescuing boat wedged on rocks off Motutapu Island

• Westlake Boys’ High School students are being praised for rescuing a stranded boat.
• The boat became grounded on rocks near Motutapu Island, northeast of Auckland.
• Coastguard Hibiscus said the students’ quick thinking prevented serious damage.

A group of Auckland pupils on a school camp came to the rescue of a boat stuck on rocks in the Hauraki Gulf, using brute strength to refloat the stricken vessel, then stopping it from drifting back until help arrived.

Westlake Boys' High School celebrated their student’s “quick thinking and teamwork”, with the principal saying he was “proud” of their efforts.

“Well done to our prefects and staff who rescued a boat stuck on Motutapu Island.”

The incident happened during the school’s first Year 9 camp last week.

Westlake Boys' High School prefects and staff rescuing a boat stuck on Motutapu Island.

“While leading beach activities, prefects noticed a launch stranded on rocks with the occupants waving for help. The engines wouldn’t start and the boat had become stuck.

English teacher Lance Dunne led the rescue with prefect and diver Oliver Stephenson jumping in to free the anchor.

The boys then held the boat off the rocks until the Coastguard arrived.

Images show the schoolboys surrounding the boat and holding it in place in the water with ropes.

Coastguard Hibiscus said the response was “an amazing example of community spirit in action”.

“Before Coastguard Hibiscus arrived, these legends jumped into action to save a vessel from serious damage.

“The volunteers aboard were blown away by the students' quick thinking and teamwork, as was the launch owner.

“We never know what we’ll face when we turn up, and it was a surprise to see a group of students pulling lines to keep the launch off the rocks.

“Their actions were truly commendable!” Coastguard Hibiscus said.

Westlake Boys' pupils and staff waded in chest deep water to help the stricken craft off Motutapu Island in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf.

Newly-appointed principal Paul Fordham said the older school boys' actions were an example of the behaviour they tried to encourage.

“We talk a lot about citizenship ... we talk to the boys about their responsibility to the community.

“We’re proud of the boys.”

The incident happened during a four-day induction camp where Year 9 students are supported by senior prefects.

“They go over on the camp in a mentorship role,” Fordham said, explaining the camp aims to help make starting high school “less daunting”.

Jaime Lyth is a multimedia journalist for the New Zealand Herald, focusing on crime and breaking news. Lyth began working under the NZ Herald masthead in 2021 as a reporter for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei.