Te-Arani Wirihana-Bennett has been told how beautiful the South Island is but all she knew about Milford Sound was that it was on a Monopoly game.
Now the 15-year-old Tikipunga High School student will be able to see the fiord herself when she visits next month as part of a cruise which will raise money for her school.
"I feel very privileged to get such an opportunity. There are a lot of bright kids at my school and for me to be the person receiving this opportunity, I'm really excited,'' Wirihana-Bennett said.
"I've never been to the South Island. My pāpā (dad) works in the South Island and said it's really beautiful."
The overnight Cruise-for-a-Cause is a fundraiser for KidsCan, a charity which supports more than 700 schools nationwide and more than 100 in Northland, with 100 per cent of funds going to support the students at Tikipunga High School over the next two years.
Wirihana-Bennett said the charity not only supports the students by providing food, clothing, shoes, and health products, but it has also created a community feel at the school.
"Even today there's kai in the cafeteria, and it's amazing. From Year 7 to Year 13, you see a tonne of kids in there eating and connecting and sitting with teachers, which I think is good.
"It's also a tuakana/teina (older/younger relationship) approach to the situation where everyone gets to sit at a table and enjoy kai together. KidsCan may not be aware of this but they bring our kura together," she said.
KidsCan's founder and CEO Julie Chapman said the cruise is a fundraising first for the charity.
"Despite the hardship some students are living in, they're incredibly resilient. They want to learn - and we can help get them ready for school by providing essential items like food, warm clothing and health items."
Wirihana-Bennett, who is fluent in te reo Māori and a student representative on the school's Board of Trustees, said while she is not looking forward to the cold, she is excited to meet people on the cruise and thank them for their support.
"I hope I get to tell them about all the great mahi that KidsCan do and thank them and let them know our kids are benefiting from their mahi."
The Cruise-for-a-Cause runs from September 14 to 15. For more information visit kidscan.org.nz/events/milford-sound-cruise-for-a-cause.