The challenge to Te Hapua's Amazing Youth to complete an Amazing Race might have become a damp squib given the rain that greeted the teams, but it takes more than a wet day to knock these kids back.
"Seven teams of five or six participants accepted their race packs, the team leaders taking charge of the work books and cameras, Mama Jewel Sucich launching the race with a whakamoemiti, asking Our Father to care for the rangatahi, tamariki and pakeke who were part of a greater team dressed in their shirts of varying shades of green," Whakawhiti Ora Pai youth and whanau activity co-ordinator Josephine Nathan said.
The rules having been explained, the teams first had to answer ten questions ranging from choosing the best description of New York's Grand Central Terminal to naming who discovered Australia.
Once the teams had answered all ten questions correctly they received the first of ten clues to help them on their way. Most of the activities required taking photos, signing off work books and presenting various skill performances to selected audiences.
The two local policemen, who at first were unable to stay for the duration of the race, became so engrossed that they stayed after all.
