"We made it and it was so worth it. We had 16 young people and off we went to Auckland.
"We'd been booked into a backpackers just off Queen Stree so you can imagine compared to Marton this was a whole new country".
The festival at the Aotea Centre featured workshops including leading for impact, creative problem solving, start-up social enterprise, and the ideas and skills cafe.
The festival's leader, 29-year-old Wellington-based entrepreneur Guy Ryan, who was University of Auckland Young New Zealander of the Year last year, played a significant role as founder and chief executive in providing vital opportunities.
He told a magazine that our world now was increasingly complex.
" ...and urgent problems need solving. Our work gives young people access to some of New Zealand's most brilliant minds to understand these complexities, and grow ideas that can make a real difference."
The festival this year was attended by 1300 young people from throughout New Zealand, Australia and Canada.
For three students from Rangitikei College it was an unforgettable three days and this week they were still excited about what they learned, what had inspired them and most of all they can't wait to head off again next year.
Head Boy Jermaine Moke, 17, in Year 13, said it had excited him to hear amazing young speakers in workshops like learning about the mega trends on local and global economy.
"How to better prepare yourself for the workforce. There's so much you can learn at school but something national and big like this was so helpful and it was fantastic meeting so many other people from all over New Zealand. I loved it."
Rebecca Johnston, 16, said meeting so many new people was a bit scary at first.
"But I got over that and met some great people. Everyone wanted to talk, we were all there to learn and I loved the workshops and Auckland it was so exciting."
Aaron Mulligan, also 16, said the weekend provided real "food for thought".
"People telling you that yeah it's a tough life but you can get through. Making you feel as though you're capable of everything and anything."
The three said they loved the political debates on the future of democracy and politics.
Aaron said the first debate was between university political science lecturers then the second debate was on MPs from all the parties.
"It was so great. My interests are politics, the law, debating and and the military especially the airforce for me."
Jermaine said it was so encouraging to be told that things just happen.
"Things can go wrong but you can always get out. It's great to hear that."
Among the main speakers were Yoseph Ayele representing Global Impact from New Zealand. The CEO of the Edmund Hillary Fellowship, Yoseph said he is building an ecosystem of entrepreneurs and investors to solve complex global problems from New Zealand.
One of the opening speakers was the Hon Alfred Ngaro, Minister for Pacific Peoples, Minister for the Community and voluntary sector and the Associate Minister for Children and Social Housing.
And Daniel Flynn who spoke about Impact with Social Enterprise. He talked about how he and his team at Thankyou have built one of the most inspiring youth-led social enterprises in the world and are now in their eighth year.
However an unexpected highlight of the three-day weekend was when Rangitikei Mayor Andy Watson drove to Auckland and met the group at his family-owned theme park Spookers.
Spookers is set in Kingseat Hospital is a former psychiatric hospital considered to be one of New Zealand's most notorious haunted locations with over 100 claims of apparitions being reported by 2011.
It is in Karaka, south of Auckland and is believed to be Australasia's only haunted attraction scream park and "the number 1 Haunted Attraction in the Southern Hemisphere".
Mr Watson said he was absolutely delighted to take the the Marton group through and said he congratulates Cath Ash for organising such a stimulating and innovative trip.
He laughed when he said one of the students, Rebecca, just about " wrung his hand off" she was holding it so tightly.
"The young leaders festival at the Aotea centre was such marvellous experience for this group. They are all fine young people. I'm meeting with them on Friday. It's about keeping them fired up. I know how they loved the conference and we have to keep it like that. They are our future."
