The Spirit of New Zealand is a 45m barquentine-rigged sail-training vessel.

Based in Auckland, she takes young people aged from 15 to 19 on 10-day Youth Development voyages. The voyages aim to develop qualities of leadership, independence and community spirit through the medium of the sea.

We are granted up to four sailings a year for interested students on this legendary vessel. Each sailing lasts 10 days. The ship sails almost every day of the year. Those fortunate enough to win a place gain skills, new friends, and increased self-confidence. Places are advertised in the notices in October for the following year.

In addition, each year we apply for a five-day competitive sailing for a team of 10 students from four schools, called The Spirit Trophy Voyage. Teams of 10 students from four schools, with one teacher per team, compete against each other over a period of five days. The team with the most points at the end of the voyage wins The Spirit Trophy! All events include teamwork, problem-solving, debate, ship handling, and aquatic sports in and on the water. Teams will go ashore for a day and complete a task against others that will involve ingenuity, leadership, excitement, reward, and fun.

Mrs Peawini pwl@cghs.school.nz