Mawe Patira receives his award at the 2026 Whenuapai airbase Blue Light camp.
Mawe Patira receives his award at the 2026 Whenuapai airbase Blue Light camp.
Northland teenager Temawe Patira has been awarded an Overall Excellence Award at a Blue Light Life Skills Camp at Whenuapai.
Fifteen-year-old Temawe, or Mawe as he’s usually called, took part last month in the five-day residential camp at the RNZAF’s Whenuapai Base.
The camps bring together young people from acrossAotearoa to develop leadership, resilience and practical life skills in a structured, high-expectations environment.
Mawe said the experience had helped him develop “discipline, obedience, and important life skills that I know I’ll carry with me into the future”.
“It helped me grow in confidence and showed me that I’m capable of more than I sometimes think.
“I built strong friendships with people from different backgrounds, which made the experience even more meaningful. The camp challenged me physically and mentally, but it was also a lot of fun.
“My toughest challenge at the camp was marching and staying in sync with everyone while working as a team. That showed me the importance of teamwork, patience, and perseverance,” Mawe said.
Being announced as the Overall Excellence Award Winner took Mawe by surprise, he said. “I felt shocked and really excited. I honestly didn’t expect it. Receiving the award made me feel proud of the effort I put in and reminded me that hard work, commitment, and positive attitude don’t go unnoticed.”
For anyone considering the Blue Light Life Skills Camp, Whangārei Boxing Academy chairwoman Andrea Snowdon said, “We wanted our young people to understand what resilience looks like beyond the gym.
“Seeing the growth, confidence, and pride he [Mawe] returned with has reinforced how powerful these programmes are.”
Looking ahead, Mawe plans to continue his journey with Blue Light. “My next goal is to attend the Blue Light Leadership Programme later this year.
“Boxing is my biggest passion, and at school, my main focus is achieving both NCEA Level 1 and Level 2.”
Blue Light’s Life Skills Camps are run in partnership with the New Zealand Defence Force, with adventure-based experiential learning as a key part of the programme.
The programme is designed to provide 14-17-year-olds with critical life skills such as self-development, self-control, and teamwork, intended to help young people achieve success at home, school, in communities, and in employment.
There were great friendships to be made and great experiences to be had at January's Blue Light Life Skills Camp in Whenuapai.
Up to 12 courses are held each year in Auckland, Trentham, Waiouru and Burnham.
More information is available at www.bluelight.co.nz.
A major focus is on empowering disadvantaged youth by removing barriers to positive participation in their communities through national and locally delivered programmes.
With more than 70 branches, Blue Light offers cultural, sporting, and educational activities that are alcohol, drug, and violence‑free.
While supported by police, it operates independently, providing young people with positive role models and safe experiences that reduce the risk of offending or victimisation. Founded as a community policing initiative in Australia, Blue Light now also operates in the Solomon Islands, the Cook Islands, and Scotland.
Sarah Curtis is a news reporter for the Northern Advocate, covering a wide range of issues. She has 20 years’ experience in journalism, mostly as a court reporter in Gisborne and on the East Coast.
