Source: New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF)
For the first time in its more than 10-year history, the Cook Islands Blue Light programme has given its teenage participants a hands-on experience with a multi-million-dollar Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) C-130J Hercules aircraft.
The 27 young Cook Islanders were given a tour of the RNZAF’s newest aircraft last week when it overnighted at Rarotonga Airport as part of its work for Exercise Tropic Twilight on Ma’uke.
“This is the first we’ve been able to take the Cook Islands Blue Light group through a Hercules. It has taken a lot of planning but it’s been worth it,” said Sergeant Ryan Merwood.
“The kids loved the aircraft. They were raving about it all day. They wanted to get through the cockpit and take all the photos, basically to get an experience of the Air Force.”
It was a taste of one end of military life during the five-day course which relies a lot on the basics of military training normally given to new recruits.
It is run by Cook Island Police, Blue Light NZ, and with help from three instructors from the New Zealand Defence Force’s (NZDF) Youth Development Unit.
Tuakeu Paerau, 18, who is in his last year at school and thinking of joining the police, said he loved the course.
“My favourite part is listening to the staff and doing what we are told. We get more rewards out of that.
“I also enjoy the marching and drills. We are proud of ourselves when we march. We march like we are actually in the military, thanks to the training.”
Tiare Williams, 17, is now thinking about joining the Army after her parents got her involved with Blue Light.
Already active and into sports, she said she enjoyed the marching, waking up early and runs.
She also appreciated what she had learned around teamwork, communication and discipline.
“The NZ Army soldiers are pretty cool. They are straight to the point and don’t muck around.”
The course covered a range of skills, from basic cooking, tying knots, rules around driving, cyber safety and setting goals to the fun of games and even a lagoon cruise – a tourist trip many might not normally experience.
“We provide the good leadership-style activities, as well as drill and marching, waking up early and making themselves clean and presentable,” Sergeant Merwood said.
The teens generally picked up marching and drill quickly.
“At first, it’s a bit foreign to them. They struggle with the idea of drill with uniformed personnel barking orders. Come Day 2 it’s completely normal, big smiles, they want to show off and be the best.
“Just in two days I was telling them they should be extremely proud. They could march, left and right turn, about turn and do drill movements that a lot of our soldiers might take a little while to get the hang of.”
Putting smiles on the teens’ faces was why many YDU staff did the job, Sergeant Merwood said.
“And when you end up seeing them in uniform, it is a very fulfilling moment.
“We are incredibly proud to be here working with amazing kids, and growing the partnerships we have with Cook Islands Police and Blue Light NZ. It’s extremely rewarding.”
Senior Sergeant Epii Poila said Blue Light started in the Cook Islands in 2014 as a response to problems around truancy.
Those issues with at-risk youth had since declined, and now the programme was good for building confidence, offering structure and career pathways, he said.
The NZDF component helped bring structure and discipline to the students and previous participants had since become police officers or joined the NZDF, he said.
“Our youth here love anything to do with the Defence Force. It focuses their attention and it’s so different for them.”
