Blue Light shows the way

By Deb Hann - On the Beat

This week I want to highlight the great work Blue Light is doing across Waipā.

Blue Light is a charity that has supported youth programmes throughout New Zealand for more than 35 years. Its branches give young people positive alternatives and strategies to avoid becoming offenders or victims of crime by providing supervised cultural, sporting, social, and educational activities in drug, alcohol, and violence‑free environments. The aim is to strengthen relationships between Police, young people, their families, and the wider community.

During the April school holidays, Cambridge Blue Light, supported by generous local sponsors, sent two Cambridge High School students on a leadership voyage with the NZ Sailing Trust. They spent four nights crewing on a superyacht alongside students from around the country, developing leadership, teamwork, sailing skills, and environmental awareness. Both students report benefiting greatly from the experience.

Last Thursday, Te Miro School and St Peter’s Catholic School represented Cambridge at the Waikato Blue Light Rural PCT Challenge, competing against schools from across Waikato and Coromandel. Teams of four (two boys, two girls) completed a Police vehicle challenge, detective tasks, fingerprint exercises, and the Police Physical Competency Test (PCT). The PCT is the same obstacle course all police recruits must pass and maintain throughout their careers. The event fostered confidence, fitness, teamwork, and leadership. Waihi College took out the top spot.

In April 2026, Te Awamutu Blue Light was selected for a youth leadership exchange in the United States with the Kansas City Youth Police Athletic League, an organisation with similar goals. Youth Aid Officer senior constable Scott Miller and 15‑year‑old  Maori Te Wake from Te Awamutu joined other New Zealand teens on the trip. They quickly bonded with their young American hosts over shared interests like the gym, Chick‑fil‑A, and Walmart. The group visited police stations, youth facilities, the police academy, and more. The New Zealand students proudly shared their culture, leaving a lasting impression with their haka.

The activities of Blue Light would not be possible without the generous financial sponsorship of our Waipā communities and the time commitment of those individuals serving on the branch committees. We appreciate the opportunities this support enables us to provide youth.