Friday 14 March 2025
Student Perspective
The full Boarding weekend for the Te Pūtake Lodge was a great experience. It started when we went to Vector Wero Whitewater Park where we spent most of the evening. It was a very fun experience and it was cool to see all of the different courses they had to offer. We even got a peek at some experienced kayakers on the course. There were six of us on a boat and we did some massive drop-offs and flipped the boat a couple of times which was extremely fun and wet! We then came back to the Lodge and ate pizza and ice cream which capped off a fun evening.
The following day we had some free time in the morning when we went to the gym and the pool which was really good to stay active, after this we had lunch and made our way to the bus for our next adventure. We went to Adrenaline Forest to do a high ropes course where there were six levels ranging from height and obstacle difficulty. There were a few boys who completed the hardest course, while most of the others had fun challenging themselves on other levels. Then we came back and had dinner at the dining hall where we had some fried chicken that tasted exactly like KFC so obviously we ate that up without a fuss. After a long day, we were all very tired and were looking forward to a good night's sleep.
On Sunday we got up and did some recreation - lots of us did a workout in the gym. After a delicious brunch, we completed some House challenges like building straw towers and various sports where we competed against the other boys for rewards. Once we finished them all we had some free time before dinner so we just chilled and got ready for the week ahead, ending off a brilliant weekend with the Lodge!
Written by Tommo Edgar (Year 9, School) and Freddie Blagden (Year 9, School)
Housemaster Perspective
We understand that beginning as a Year 9 boarder can be a challenging time for students, and that’s why our first term in Te Pūtake Lodge is focused on supporting our new boarders to adjust and thrive in a new environment.
The first three weeks at Te Pūtake Lodge are designed to support students to rise to the challenge in what is, for many, their first experience in boarding. During these first weeks, there is lots of contact time with their teacher mentors and boarding staff, who guide them in learning all the routines and expectations of the boarding environment. Physical recreation time is set to encourage them to be active and play together, helping them to form new relationships while engaging in physical exercise. Prep expectations are set and students are exposed to the new routines of both independent and collaborative prep work.
New boarders also meet their new student mentors and spend time in their individual ‘Big Houses’ where they can become familiar with their new House, history and culture. This then culminates in their first ‘full boarding weekend’ where the new boarders spend time with their Big House whānau, prepping for the athletics and swimming sports competitions, engaging in other onsite activities, and visiting Auckland attractions like Orewa Beach or Parakai Hot Pools for an afternoon of fun and bonding.
The following weekend is the Te Pūtake full boarding weekend, where all students of the Lodge participate in some fun activities designed to get boys out of their comfort zone and challenge them in a safe and enjoyable way. These activities help the students to build confidence and self-esteem. This year, the boys navigated the rapids and the four-metre waterfall drop at Vector Wero Whitewater Park before spending time high up in the tree-tops working through obstacles and ziplines at Adrenaline Forest in Bombay. Here, they built new friendships and enjoyed shared experiences.
There are also lots of team-building activities and challenges planned to bring students together and provide further opportunities for them to develop important skills such as respect, compassion, teamwork and perseverance. Of course, downtime is always scheduled as well, as a way of allowing boys to be themselves, relax and enjoy each other’s company in their home away from home.
Daniel Rattray
Te Pūtake Lodge Housemaster