Rotorua police studies students give a helping hand at Lakeside

Rotorua Boys' High School Lakeside volunteer Iliesa Baleisuva (left) with head prefect and Lakeside performer Hohaia Macfarlane. Photo/Supplied

Students from the Rotorua Girls' High School and Rotorua Boys' High School's police studies programme gave a helping hand at Lakeside 2018.

Co-ordinator Nicola Salmond said some of the students worked really long hours helping with car parking, ushering and the clean up.

"Some of the less confident ones really stepped up - they shone."

She said all of the helpers were helpful and polite.

Rotorua Boys' High School deputy principal - student support Hamish Lockwood said the 15 students from Boys' High and 15 from Girls' High were in charge of the VIP carpark, ushering and the clean-up at the end of the night.

"This was a great experience for our Raukura men and Rotorua Girls' High School girls within the police studies course as it was a great introduction to working with the general public, gaining valuable communication skills, how to adapt to challenging situations and problem solving.

"It was also good to gain community service and citizenship experience.

"Overall it was a beneficial experience for our young men and aligned well with the police values of professionalism, respect, integrity, Maori and Treaty, empathy and diversity."

Boys' High Year 13 student Genesis Hull said the volunteering effort was a good experience.

"We were able to represent the school and be part of such a huge community event.

"It was a good hands-on experience and being able to work with others."

Rotorua Girls' High School principal Ally Gibbons said the girls really loved helping out.

"They really enjoyed being part of the show and it was a great experience for them.

"The staff have spoken really positively about how they looked, behaved and interacted with the public."