Rotorua student heads to the ice

A Rotorua student has been chosen to go to the Auckland Islands with the Sir Peter Blake Trust.

A Rotorua Boys' High School student is ready to set his sails towards a new horizon.

Year 12 student Tamahauiti Potaka, 16, is among 14 New Zealand students chosen by the Sir Peter Blake Trust to join a once in a lifetime trip to the subantarctic Auckland Islands.

"I'm excited to go down there and explore the pathways that my ancestors have travelled before me," Tamahauiti said.

Tamahauiti said it was a big deal for him to be chosen.

"I'm really thankful to the Sir Peter Blake Trust for giving me this opportunity."

The students will depart in February on board HMNZS Otago to work alongside scientists and experts while experiencing ship life.

It will take four days to get to the Auckland Islands.

Once they arrive, they will work with leading scientists on terrestrial and marine ecology and geology projects, including close up encounters with sea lions, albatrosses and penguins.

Environmental programme director at the Sir Peter Blake Trust, Hannah Prior, said the 14-day trip would truly change and shape the students' futures.

"From the moment they lose sight of land, they will be fully engaged in ship life from learning about navigation to helping in the galley. They will be seasick, totally out of their comfort zone and challenged in ways they didn't imagine. This trip will shape them and give them the skills and knowledge to help lead environmental projects," Ms Prior said.

The voyage continues the legacy of Sir Peter Blake's "Blakexpeditions", which sailed to Antarctica, the Tierra del Fuego and the Amazon, to inspire and motivate people to care for their natural environment.

Each student needs to raise $1000 to take up their place in their expedition.

The expedition is a partnership between the Sir Peter Blake Trust, the Royal New Zealand Navy, the Department of Conservation, New Zealand Antarctic Research Institute, NIWA, Kelly Tarltons, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry of Youth Development.