High school children in the Maniototo have been having a blast with Central Otago police over the last few weeks.

A Blue Light Alternative Strategy for Teenagers (BLAST) initiative that has been operating in conjunction with high schools throughout the country and Maniototo Area School came into the programme for the first time this year.

Alexandra Police Senior Constable Garry Milford, who was also on the Prevention Services Team, said 14 kids took part in the programme in Ranfurly, which focused on skills development and fitness.

Dunstan High School and Cromwell College already take part in the initiative, and in Ranfurly the students were offered boxing classes after school as well as various problem solving activities.

A final ‘Big Day Out’ at the conclusion of the two to three week programme started at 4:30am one morning last week, which involved fitness testing, orienteering and pulling a fire truck along the street.

Snr Cons Milford said to celebrate their success, the students would be spending the day in Queenstown and Cromwell with a bungy jump followed by a session at the water park.

“It’s good to have some scaffolding around kids and give them some goals. And, it’s good for kids to interact with police in a positive way.”

He said some kids come out of the programme and have even gone onto train as police officers themselves.