The Whakatipu course is specifically designed for Gateway students. The focus is on work readiness and growing soft skills ready for the workplace. Thank you Josie for your report on this awesome experience and congratulations on being selected.

Josies report:

I was lucky enough to be one of the students that was given the opportunity to experience an 8 day Anakiwa course. During these 8 days we completed a bunch of various activities that pushed us to our limits. Some of the activities we experienced were sailing/rowing, rock climbing, a 2 day tramp, high ropes, 1 night solo and a lot of group activities.

Each morning we had to be up and ready at 6:50am to go for a 2.5k run in under 25 minutes, once we finished that we had to quickly jump in the sea and then head off and get ready for breakfast.

Within our watch which was called Blake Watch, there were 10 people, Findlay and myself were the only ones from the South Island. Over the 8 days we had to quickly get to know each other and learn how to work together efficiently. We soon found out as a watch if one person is late to something then we were all late which then means we all get punished, often resulting in us having to do some sort of fitness again.

Personally I believe that even though it was tough and we were constantly being pushed to our limits it was one of the best experiences that I have had, and this is mainly because of the people I met along the way and the different activities we got to do