WET SEND-OFF: Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae farewells the 30 students sailing to the Kermadec Islands on the Young Blake Expedition.
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Thirty high school students from around New Zealand have been farewelled by Governor General Sir Jerry Mateparae as they left a bleak Auckland today for the sub-tropical Kermadec islands.
The students are all Young Blake Expedition recipients, sponsored by the Sir Peter Blake Trust.
They will spend 12 days based aboard the navy's multi purpose ship HMNZS Canterbury.
If the Governor General's Facebook photos are any guide, he stood with the students on the rain swept flight deck to say goodbye.
They have been joined by 25 professionals including scientists, business leaders and adventurers from government agencies and organisations.
Sir Peter Blake Trust chief executive Shelley Campbell said the inaugural expedition follows in the footsteps of Blake on the 10-year anniversary of his death.
"Sir Peter would be proud to see the high calibre of the student voyagers. He would no doubt recognise a little bit of himself in their can-do attitude and passion for the environment around them," she said.
The students will camp on Raoul Island with Department of Conservation staff.
"As a protected area and marine reserve, few people in the world will ever have the opportunity to visit the Kermadecs," Campbell said.
"We hope that through this adventure, students will gain confidence, learn about their own leadership ability and how to work collaboratively with others."
- © Fairfax NZ News
