The Hynds Foundation has been a supporter of United North Piha Life Guard Service over recent years, including its development of valuable infrastructure. This includes the award-winning life-saving tower, and a new clubhouse that is available for wider community use.
The clubhouse is made available to two schools that we have been supporting in South Auckland. Papakura High will utilise the space for a leadership camp in November. Manurewa High was the first to utilise the opportunity, in February 2025, with its Services Academy students.
The Service Academy offers a pathway for Year 12 and 13 students who may already aspire to a career in the Defence Force or other uniformed service, as well as students who may be at risk of disengaging from education. Teacher leaders of a Service Academy work hard to create a values-based culture within their cohorts, drawing on teambuilding models that these youth could experience when they transition into a uniformed service.
The opportunity early in the school year to bring a student together as a whānau is welcome. We were delighted that Manurewa High School’s (MHS) Services Academy took up the opportunity we could provide them for a start-of-year camp.
Teacher in charge of the MHS Services Academy, deputy principal Katie Spraggon says: “The facilities are great and the proximity to the beach and the Kitekite waterfall walk was awesome as we were able to do a number of activities on the sand and walked from the accommodation to the waterfall and back. There was enough indoor space for what we needed too. The team was very helpful and supportive during the stay too and were easily contactable when we needed.”
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