An action-packed Longest Day was an epic finale to the conclusion of CACTUS 2023 in Kaikōura.
The 40-strong contingent finished the eight-week course on a stunning East Coast day with a wide range of physical activities featuring in The Longest Day. Kaikōura Police have been running the CACTUS course biennially as part of their Blue Light Youth Programme, which has been in operation for 15 years.
The four core values threaded throughout the course – camaraderie, commitment, courage and integrity - were all required for The Longest Day. It also required the physical and mental fitness that had been built up over the previous 25 sessions, held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6am in the local high school gymnasium.
And from the results, the team did a fantastic job priming and supporting the group to get over the long but final hurdle. Sergeant Matt Boyce couldn’t have been more impressed with this year’s efforts.
“We had 42 students embark on the course with 40 completing it and over 90% of participants had a 100% attendance rate throughout the course. We were absolutely thrilled to see that level of commitment from this group of young people.”
The 2023 Longest Day challenge was based at the Kaikōura Trotting Track, a perfect location to hold a day of physical and mental challenges as well as a good dose of fun. The day is also designed with a focus on teamwork and leadership.
A 5.30am start in the dark was accompanied by a bronco fitness test followed by a bike ride to Ocean Ridge, a rope carry and a hill pole carry. A rogaine followed, which had the group orienteering around the township and peninsular. From there, there was a sea swim, an underwater treasure hunt, the Police PCT course, paint ball target shooting and an offender and memory test.
Not yet finished - the longest day continued with a blind fold challenge, sulky pull, FENZ gear carry and rescue challenge and a fire engine pull. Finally, in a day that would test the fittest of people, the participants all stood tall for a parade inspection by Kaikōura Mayor, Craig Mackle.
A fitting challenge for the 2023 CACTUS held at the Kaikōura Trotting Track.
In total, the group completed 15 events over the course of the day.
At 5.30pm, the group came together for the awards presentation. During the eight-week programme each youth’s fitness strengths are monitored and a handful of standout students receive awards ranging from local retail vouchers to leadership experiences, such as a week at Burnham Military Camp.
Almost there! The final parade inspection at the conclusion of The Longest Day in Kaikōura.
The top awards went to Zoe Boyce and Theo Rae. The team is also in the process of organising a Spirit of Adventure experience for the award winners, which is being supported by several local partners.
- CACTUS Kaikōura is led by volunteers from the community; Tony Anker & Monica Pattison, Kaikōura High School’s Mike Lawrie, Sergeant Matt Boyce, Constables Devon Payne and Callan Heger from Kaikōura Police and with support from the team at Blue Light.