When Ruapehu College students talk about being "in the cactus" they are not in trouble and they haven't fallen into a prickly plant - they are participating in CACTUS, a joint initiative between their school, Ohakune Police, NZ army, Ngati Rangi Trusts and the Ruapehu Whanau Transformation project (RWT).
The Combined Adolescent Challenge Training Unit and Support programme kicked off last week with 27 participants and Ruapehu College deputy principal Jason White said the buzz around the school after the first week had been very positive.
The programme, which runs for eight weeks from February 9 until April 2, was offered to all Year 9 to Year 13 Ruapehu College students, who entered on a voluntary basis through a self-referral process.
The students from Ohakune, Raetihi and Waiouru have a 6am start three days a week with breakfast provided.
The first session on Monday started with an RFL (Required Fitness Level) which consists of a 2.4km run, followed by as many press-ups and sit-ups as possible.