Taradale High School students' Young Enterprise Scheme raises money for rescue helicopter

FLYING HIGH: Rescue Rose team members Tessa Cotter (left), Paige Van Der Meent and Abbey Smith, with HB Rescue Helicopter Trust marketing and fundraising manager Beth O'Reilly. PHOTO/Warren Buckland

A group of Taradale High School students have reached their target of $3000 for the Hawke's Bay Rescue Helicopter Trust.

As part of the school's Young Enterprise Scheme (YES) team, "Rescue Rose" was created in an attempt to give back to the charity they have a personal connection with.

The team is comprised of chief executive Paige Van Der Meent and team members Abbey Smith, Nikita Binnie, Stacie Drew and Tessa Cotter.

Tessa's late grandfather was helped by the rescue helicopter crew - so it was the perfect fit.

Paige said they didn't own the wine, but had the job of finding channels that local winery Ka Tahi Wines could sell through.

"We had a partnership with Ka Tahi Wines and they agreed for a Young Enterprise Scheme project if we could essentially borrow some money to make this wine and sell it and then pay them back."

All up, the venture cost about $10,000 for the winery to produce the wine and for the labels - a sum they managed to pay back in about four months.

"We're extremely happy and are grateful for the opportunity that we have been given as a team. We're just amazed at what we could do within the young enterprise scheme. We're really happy with ourselves."

Created by world-renowned winemaker Rod McDonald, the students' wine, also named Rescue Rose, aimed to sell 1000 units, with $3 from each sale being donated.

Paige said they had had a few selling opportunities, where they promoted the wine, such as the Farmers Market while small businesses had helped promote it as well.

The team will be in Year 13 next year, and because YES is not a curricular activity, they are still deciding whether they will continue with the project.