1st XV Student Media Team Go to Eden Park

For some five seasons North Harbour Rugby Union in conjunction with Westlake BHS Gateway Programme has operated a 1^st XV student media team with a reporter and a couple of photographers from the year 12/13 media studies group at Westlake following a suggestion by Deputy Principal and then TIC Rugby Shane Young.  The media students produce a match report and photographs from a designated match of the week with is circulated to the NZ Herald and local newspapers and posted on the Union website.  The students are ably recruited and supported by Westlake Gateway Supervisor Donna Hipkins and supervised by Denis Henderson, NHRU Club and School Liaison Officer.

For the Massey HS vs Takapuna GS fixture played as a curtain-raiser to the Blues vs Brumbies fixture at Eden Park last Friday Denis Henderson and the 1^st XV student media team were hosted by the Blues media staff.  The boys had a great experience with reporter Trey Tupu-South sitting in the Eden Park media centre and photographers Jack Hall and Oliver Jones down on the hallowed turf getting their shots of the rugby action.   Blues digital media co-ordinator Olivia Burne provided advice and direction to the students to maximise the learning experience and post-match there was a flurry of activity particularly by Trey to post a 300 word report with photos on the Blues website within 30 minutes of the final whistle – a pressure situation for the boys as they usually get 2 days to meet the usual 12pm Tuesday deadline.

It was a great night for Trey, Jack and Ollie to work with the Blues media staff at the world famous Eden Park and then watch the Blues thump the Brumbies!   Many thanks to Donna Hipkins and Westlake BHS and Olivia Burne of the Blues for making it all happen.