Hamilton student who walks two hours to school gifted bike by Rotary Frankton Te Rapa

Tawhiao Mase allows himself two hours to walk to school.

           

To attend Hamilton Junior High School, he needed to leave his home in Fairfield by 6.30am.

 

It was either that or catching two buses, the number 11 and number 18.

 

Now he's been gifted a bike from Rotary Frankton Te Rapa to make his commute a little easier.

Tawhiao, 14, is a student in Year 10. He lives with his aunt who does not drive.

 

Over the years, he has missed a year and a half of school but Tawhiao insists he doesn't want to miss anymore.

 

"Where I was last living, I didn't want to come to school. That's changed a lot."

 

He said he enjoyed the work at Hamilton Junior High but was easily distracted.

The school's relationship with Rotary was formed with the Rotary Youth Programme of Enrichment (RYPEN).

 

It includes a weekend away for Year 10 students, where they participate in a range of outdoor physical and indoor cooperative activities.

 

It is designed for students who show qualities of courage, perseverance, and loyalty.

 

Tawhiao and fellow pupil Matenga Whatarangi were selected to go.

 

It was Tawhiao's first camp, and it came with new experiences including kayaking, horse riding, and archery.

 

Held at Lakewood Lodge in Rangiriri, the camp aimed to teach students how to be good leaders.

 

Tawhiao and Matenga said being a good leader meant doing the right thing, being respectful and helpful, and encouraging others.

 

"It inspired me to be a leader and to be a good role model to others. That's something I want to improve," Tawhiao said.

 

He was gifted the bike last week, as well as a helmet, bike lock, and lights.

 

Rotary member Rowan Anderson said the gift was part of a "domino effect" that started with the boys coming to camp.

 

"We're there to give boys like these an opportunity to change their thinking, see there's something different, set some goals and get out of their comfort zone."

 

She said the bike no longer gave Tawhiao any excuses not to come to school.

 

"Once you get educated, nobody can ever take it off you," she said.