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1160 days ago

Wingmen from North Shore school on matching career coordinates

Caryn Wilkinson Reporter from Community News

Three former students of a North Shore high school have been reunited on the tarmac.

The Westlake Boys High School old boys bumped into each other at their military flying training as Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) pilots.

Flying Officer Denzel Williams 24, Flying Officer Aaron Kurte 24, and Flying Officer Tyler Waters 25, all attended the school in Auckland's Forrest Hill.

Kurte and Williams were in the same year and played hockey together, while Waters studied in the year above them.

Despite following different flight paths after leaving school, the trio found themselves on the same pilot's course at the Royal New Zealand Air Force Base in Ohakea.

All three have passed with flying colours with six other new pilots.

Kurte made coffee as a barista while he saved for private flying training.

Williams did odd jobs for a few years and travelled with Kurte before joining the Air Force.

And Waters studied a Batchelor of mechanical engineering at Auckland University where he graduated with honours.

From left: Flying Officers Denzel Williams, Tyler Waters and Aaron Kurte graduate as RNZAF pilots. Photograph supplied: New Zealand Defence Force

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More messages from your neighbours
1 day ago

Poll: Could we live without public bins?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Many public rubbish bins are being removed by councils due to the large costs of regularly emptying them. Do you think we can adapt and live without them?

Type 'Not For Print' if you wish your comments to be excluded from the We Say You Say column of your local paper.

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Could we live without public bins?
  • 11.9% Yes
    11.9% Complete
  • 87.6% No
    87.6% Complete
  • 0.5% Other - I'll share below
    0.5% Complete
1650 votes
8 days ago

Are you a first home buyer?

The Team Reporter from Stuff

Hello!
Are you a first home buyer? Is your mortgage going up and up with rising interest rates and you’re now struggling to make ends meet? Have you lost the ability to save any extra cash?

We’re reaching out from the Tova show, the flagship weekly politics podcast on Stuff, as we prepare a special episode on the interest rate crunch and how it’s affecting Kiwis - we’d love to hear your stories.

Please comment below if you would like to share your story, or email tova@stuff.co.nz. We give you our commitment to treat your experience with sensitivity and care.

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21 hours ago

Birkenhead War Memorial Park tracks now open!

John Gillon from John Gillon - Kaipatiki Local Board

Thankyou to everyone who came to celebrate the official opening of the new loop track through Birkenhead War Memorial Park!
The track has been upgraded to a standard to help prevent kauri dieback disease, including new bridges and boardwalks with fantastic views of the trees. The loop forms a step-free recreational track connecting into the shared concrete path that was built last year. The Mahara Ave entrance is just past the pump track and the Recreation Drive entrance is from behind Playcentre.
Thankyou to all of the council staff and contractors involved in the project, including reNature and Milton Harwood Construction. Thankyou also to Matua Shannon Leilua for the opening blessing and to Kaipatiki Community Facilities Trust for the opening event. The project was funded by the Natural Environment Targeted Rate and the Kaipātiki Local Board.

NEXT: The Kauri Glen Reserve tree-top bridge and track will be officially opened at 12pm Sunday 28 April.