Discover Your Strengths
Explore talents, interests and activities that matter to you.
HAEATA COMMUNITY CAMPUS / LEARNING / DUKE OF EDINBURGH
Your Challenge. Your Journey. Your Achievement.
At Haeata, rangatahi can set meaningful goals, grow their skills, give back to their communities and discover what they are capable of through adventure. We are proud to deliver the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award.
Discover the AwardExplore Award LevelsGet Started
An internationally recognised Award, proudly delivered at Haeata Community Campus.
ABOUT THE AWARD
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award empowers young people to shape their own development through personal goals and sustained participation.
Explore talents, interests and activities that matter to you.
Make a commitment, develop good habits and recognise personal growth.
Make a practical contribution to people, places and communities.
Build planning, teamwork and confidence through a shared journey.
HOW THE AWARD WORKS
Everyone completes Voluntary Service, Skills, Physical Recreation and an Adventurous Journey. At Gold level, participants also complete a Residential Project.
Give back. Find a meaningful way to help others: for example, approved community volunteering or environmental projects.
Find your genius. Develop a creative, technical or practical skill through regular effort, such as music, art or cooking.
Break a sweat. Choose a suitable activity and work towards personal improvement, whether through sport, walking, swimming or dance.
Get wild and explore. Prepare, practise and undertake an approved purposeful journey with a team.
Leave your comfort zone. At Gold level only: a five-day, four-night residential experience with purposeful activity and people you do not already know.
CHOOSE YOUR LEVEL
These are the national Award levels. Haeata delivers the Award; check with the school which levels are available locally, as well as its registration process.
Where Your Journey Begins
An introduction to setting goals, contributing to others and making a sustained commitment.
Starting age: 14 (limited flexibility at 13)
Minimum duration: 6 months
Qualifying journey: 2 days / 1 night
Take Your Challenge Further
Extend your commitment, explore new interests and take on more demanding challenges.
Starting age: 15 or after Bronze
Minimum duration: 6 months after Bronze; 12 months direct entry
Qualifying journey: 3 days / 2 nights
Your Greatest Award Challenge
A substantial commitment, including a five-day, four-night Residential Project.
Starting age: 16 or after Silver
Minimum duration: 12 months after Silver; 18 months direct entry
Qualifying journey: 4 days / 3 nights
Minimum periods are dependent on previous level completion and applicable entry rules. Bronze includes a further three months in one activity section; Silver and Gold direct entrants complete an additional six months in one section. Check the current official criteria before beginning.
A quick comparison of the three national levels. Scroll within the comparison on a narrow screen, or use the three Award cards above.
| Feature | Bronze | Silver | Gold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting age | 14* | 15 or after Bronze | 16 or after Silver |
| Minimum time | 6 months | 6 or 12 months | 12 or 18 months |
| Voluntary Service | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Skills | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Physical Recreation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Qualifying Journey | 2 days / 1 night | 3 days / 2 nights | 4 days / 3 nights |
| Residential Project | Not required | Not required | 5 days / 4 nights |
* Bronze has limited flexibility for a 13-year-old joining a peer group in which most participants are 14 or older. The table summarises, rather than replaces, the official criteria.
ADVENTUROUS JOURNEY
Plan. Prepare. Explore. Achieve. The Adventurous Journey is a chance to work with others, solve problems, learn through new experiences and put preparation into practice.
Develop relevant skills and training; understand the safety and Award requirements.
Complete the required practice journey with appropriate planning and supervision.
Undertake the qualifying journey with your group and an agreed purpose.
Review the experience and complete required reporting and verification.
The official qualifying journey minimums are Bronze: 2 days / 1 night; Silver: 3 days / 2 nights; Gold: 4 days / 3 nights. Training, practice, purposeful activities and additional conditions also apply.
Haeata’s current Services Programme includes visits to Mt White Station. These visits are not automatically Duke of Edinburgh qualifying journeys; please confirm with the Award Leader.
Official Adventurous Journey guidance ↗WATCH & DISCOVER
Explore these two supplied videos. The descriptions are intentionally neutral until their publishers and titles can be independently verified.
YOUR FIVE-STEP JOURNEY
Five simple stages help you understand the process. Your Award Leader will explain the official registration and verification requirements.
{description}
{description}
{description}
{description}
{description}
ONLINE RECORD BOOK
The Online Record Book (ORB) is the official platform for logging activities, tracking progress, arranging assessment and recording Award section approvals.
Your Award Leader guides you through the process and helps you understand appropriate activities and requirements.
Assessors review activity progress and provide the required confirmation for Award sections.
Keep your records up to date, discuss goals and ensure each section is properly approved.
PARTICIPANT RESOURCES
Read the official published participant guides for inspiration and practical information. These PDFs contain older material, so check current criteria before relying on eligibility and requirements.
Official participant resource with activity ideas and programme guidance. Read PDF guide ↗Current criteria ↗
Official participant resource with activity ideas and programme guidance. Read PDF guide ↗Current criteria ↗
Official participant resource with activity ideas and programme guidance. Read PDF guide ↗Current criteria ↗
PERSONAL GROWTH
The Award offers opportunities to develop strengths that extend beyond the programme. Every participant’s experience is different.
Recognise your progress and achievement.
Take responsibility for personal goals.
Persist through challenges.
Support, encourage and guide others.
Communicate and collaborate.
Discover the impact of giving back.
Plan, organise and follow through.
Celebrate sustained effort.
Your chosen activities should provide an appropriate personal challenge. The Award offers a range of activity options, and there is official guidance on accessibility and financial assistance.
Choose suitable activities in consultation with the Award Leader and official criteria.
Ask about approved flexibility and accessibility arrangements for your circumstances.
If costs create barriers, ask about the official Participant Assistance Fund and any school arrangements.
THE AWARD AT OUR KURA
Haeata currently delivers the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award. It complements the Services Programme and supports meaningful personal goals, service, adventure and responsibility.
Explore other opportunities for structured challenge, leadership, teamwork and outdoor learning.
Ask Haeata which Award levels are currently available, who can participate and what is involved in joining.
FOR WHĀNAU
Useful considerations for families and caregivers.
National starting ages differ by level. Confirm school-specific availability and eligibility with Haeata.
Bronze takes at least six months; Silver and Gold take longer when entered without the preceding Award.
Published national registration fees are Bronze $100, Silver $100, Gold $130; extra activity or unit costs may apply. Confirm current pricing with Haeata.
Participants work with their Award Leader to set goals and choose approved activities.
Adventurous Journeys have training, practice, approval and appropriate safety-management requirements.
Encourage realistic goals, regular participation and communication with the Award Leader.
OFFICIAL AWARD PATHWAYS
Alongside the traditional approach, the official New Zealand Award offers additional pathways. Confirm whether Haeata facilitates either option before presenting it as a school-specific offering.
An Award pathway with an environmental and sustainability focus. Learn more ↗
An official pathway centring te ao Māori and whanaungatanga. Consult the official explanation for its requirements. Learn more ↗
Answers to common questions from ākonga and whānau. Check the official site for full rules and Haeata for local arrangements.
An internationally recognised youth development Award based on personal goals, activity, volunteering and adventure.
Yes. Haeata confirms that it currently delivers the Award.
Ask the school about current year levels, eligibility and available places.
The Award complements Haeata’s current Services Programme. Confirm whether participation in Services is required.
Bronze, Silver and Gold, with differing age, duration and journey requirements.
Bronze normally starts at 14, Silver at 15 and Gold at 16; official progression and flexibility rules apply.
Yes, through direct entry if you meet the applicable age and additional duration requirements.
Yes, if you meet the official direct-entry age and other requirements.
A minimum of six months, including the section-major requirement.
At least six months after Bronze or twelve months for direct entry.
At least twelve months after Silver or eighteen months for direct entry.
Eligible Voluntary Service, Skills and Physical Recreation activities agreed with your Award Leader.
Some existing activities may count after registration if approved and appropriately recorded.
A regular commitment to helping others or contributing to your community.
A chance to develop or improve a non-physical skill through sustained effort.
A regular activity selected to support personal physical improvement.
An approved team journey involving preparation, practice, a qualifying experience and review.
The Award includes training and preparation; ask Haeata about programme-specific arrangements.
An additional Gold requirement involving five days and four nights away from home with purposeful activity and people you do not already know.
A person who supports and guides participants through their Award.
A person who confirms relevant activity-section progress according to Award rules.
The official digital system for recording activities and submitting evidence and approvals.
Contact the school to confirm its current registration process and Award Leader.
National registration fees and potentially additional activity or journey costs apply. Check with Haeata.
The official Participant Assistance Fund may help eligible participants; ask your Award Leader.
Do not assume Award participation automatically provides NCEA credits; ask Haeata about current arrangements.
Haeata delivers the Award, but its specific current level availability needs confirmation.
Ask Haeata whether the Award is available to learners outside Services.
Encourage steady participation, appropriate planning and regular communication.
Email office@haeata.school.nz or phone 03 930 0110.
USEFUL LINKS
Useful official information and Haeata connections.
Parents, please support our local businesses
Visit Website
Scan this code to download the app
Download our Skool Loop App, a simple and free download. In Google Play & App Store search ‘Skool Loop’ and choose our school once installed.
