Teams go to extremes to retrieve flags in Poppy Day fundraiser

Tower De Force event at Sky Tower Auckland today. Photo / Doug Sherring

Military and civilian teams yesterday competed in the extreme Sky Tower challenge, which included defence personnel and emergency response services reaching the tower's highest point to raise funds for the Auckland RSA's Annual Poppy Appeal.

Six teams faced a series of challenges to retrieve their flag from the mast of the 328m high Sky Tower and return it to ground level.

The challenges included a military skills course, climb up 1229 stairs, a mock-emergency first aid scenario, climbing the mast of the Sky Tower (91m vertical ladder climb) and abseiling 160m down the Sky Tower.