We were extremely proud to have our 2017 Deputy Head Boy, Tim Currie, selected as a participant in this voyage. The following contribution from Tim will give you some insight of what was experienced by this young group of sailors. For further information, explore https://sirpeterblaketrust.org/kermadec-voyage-2018

Over the past 9 days, a competition has arisen within the boys' room, aka the meat fridge due to its very similar resemblance to a chiller. The bed containing all the phones, all go off simultaneously with alarms causing one hell of a racket. This buzz continues for two reasons; one because everyone is too tired to move, or two, because no one wants to give in and turn them off. On the 7th of March, the boys' room was no different and awoke to a roar of alarms. Finally, we all crack due to the rumour of pancakes for breakfast acting as a catalyst to get up.

Today was no ordinary day, yet characteristic of Navy life as it was ‘ABC’, all being changed. We turned back to the New Zealand mainland on the 6th due to an injury to a ship’s crewman, leaving us Young Blake Expeditioners with a lot of uncertainty around the plans.

Throughout the last couple of days, all the student voyagers have experienced a meal in the Commanding Officers cabin with the man himself. He was more than a welcoming host, sharing his knowledge with us all and giving an insight into his life and role as the commanding officer of the RNZN’s largest ship. It was during lunch with the Commanding Officer that one of his officers came in and confirmed our arrival at Devonport naval base would be on the 8th, leaving us with less than 24 hours on this magnificent ship that has been our home for the past 9 days. With this news, everyone had a flow of emotions. Excited to see their families and friends yet sombre they were leaving their temporal home and all the great people on board this ship that have been a family over the time of the expedition.

Throughout the rest of the day, we heard from Giselle and some of the returning DOC staff about what life on Raoul Island was like as a DOC worker, full of fun and games but also hard work mainly including weeding and maintenance, made extremely difficult when near the green lake, as the crater can reach temperatures near 50°C. Lydia gave her insight into her yet to be released book, ‘Mr Peacock’s Possessions’, describing how Raoul Island was first settled and the culture of the settlers.

After a hearty feed of all the BBQ meat possible, we had our final hurrah as a group with a prize giving and reflection of the expedition, including next steps we look to take. The takings from this expedition are in the thousands and everyone shared one or two of their takings from the expedition. Collectively as a group, we all experienced a beautiful pristine marine environment that made us all dream that the rest of New Zealand could also be this diverse and healthy and that now we must be the change to achieve this common goal. We also heard from the scientists of what we have achieved. A range of new species never found at the Kermadecs before has been observed/collected such as the black trevally and garden eels, while also a range of important data and specimens has been collected to better understand this mainly unknown environment.

To conclude the expedition, we all shared gifts and heard a new rap from the girls called ‘Save Our Seas’, with a rumour that they are looking for a producer to record their new single.

Special thanks to the Sir Peter Blake Trust and the New Zealand Royal Navy; all of us who were a part of this expedition thank you for making this expedition possible, and a huge thank you to the scientists and adults for making it full of learning, excitement, and good times. This expedition has been life changing and the best two weeks I have experienced. Today might have felt like the end, but today was just the beginning of our journey, to make New Zealand great again.

Au revoir for now.

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