Like many schools around the country fundraising activities are the norm, and Hunua School is no exception.  Schools have to think outside the square these days with new and different fundraising activities and that’s just what Heather Frost, principal of the Hunua School has done. 
While other schools have done 4WD safaris only, the Hunua School has the Hunua Ranges on its door step and so was born the Hunua School 4WD Safari, a one-day event driving through the Hunua Ranges normally closed to vehicle access. 
Over 100 vehicles lined up early one morning in May with a heavy dew on the ground, while drivers booked in and then enjoyed a hot cuppa and home baking while they waited for the registrations to be completed. 
Vehicles were placed into groups with lead and tail-end vehicles, and at the briefing Heather Frost welcomed and thanked everyone for their support.  It was then a quick safety briefing from Stu Keats of the Manukau 4WD Club whose members acted as leaders and helpers for the day.
The groups moved out the back gate onto farm land at 10 minute intervals.
After a short trip across a couple of farm paddocks it was into the Forest Park.

The Hunua Ranges cover some 16,000 hectares and contain the largest block of forest on the mainland of the Auckland Region.  Originally covered in native trees such as kauri, matai, kahikatea, tawa, rata and rimu, it was used primarily by pre-European Maori as a source for food, timber and as a refuge, rather than for permanent residence. 
The area was cleared after the land wars by settlers for timber and farming, but rugged terrain, poor soils and difficult access made for a hard life.
The ranges were later purchased to supply Auckland with water and were eventually incorporated into the regional park network.  While it has a large forest many areas are now regenerating native trees and bush.  It has four dams which  supply 61 percent of Auckland’s water.
Along the route, which was mostly forest roads, there were several viewing stops.  With the ranges reaching up to over 600 metres above sea level they provide fantastic views of the greater Auckland area and the Hauraki Gulf but today the sun had trouble burning off the morning cloud and mist.
At one of the viewing stops Kevin Frost (husband of Heather) was in place as a “cleaner”, cleaning the road after everybody
had passed.  Complete with straw hat covering the blue hair, shirt and multi-coloured jersey, and vacuum cleaner cleaning the road way.  And for those who weren’t “complimentary” there was the water cannon!
There were several of these viewing stops along the way but eventually the last group caught up the front groups who were already running behind schedule and lunch was waiting. Unfortunately the last group missed out on stopping at some of the viewing locations in order to make up time.
After crossing the Mangatawhiri Dam it was into another paddock for lunch.  The school provided BBQ sausages and so on for everyone. The afternoon was across grassy tracks in the Lower Mangatawhiri area where one or two of the vehicles on road tyres had some interesting moments. 
The highlight was a sharp muddy clay corner that provided entertainment for most, watching others and then having to see if they could do better.  Most were able to drive the corner after repositioning and going straight up but a few had to succumb to the tow rope. 
From here a play area had been prepared on a nearby Hunua farm property with specially dug articulation holes, muddy bogs, slippery hills and so on.  Here many seemed to delight in the obstacles provided.  In fact it proved so popular many were still driving around as darkness closed in.
It was a successful day for everyone who took part.  While the views were a little hazy, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and especially liked the fun time at the end.   .:

Photo Captions

ACL 3951  Lined up ready to depart.

ACL 3953  Stu Keats directs the vehicle out

ACL 3965  Kevin Frost alias “Sadie” the cleaning lady

ACL 3980  Group D lead by John Harvey’s Prado.

ACL 3984 Time for photos and to take in the views at one of the trig points.

ACL 3995 The view from this ridge will disappear when the tress eventually grow full height.

ACL 4032  Crossing the Mangatawhiri Dam
Or
ACL 4039  (has frontal view instead)

ACL 4041  Lunch provided by Hunua School

ACL 4043  

ACL 4073  Doing a little scrub clearing on the slippery corner
Or
ACL 4074

ACL 4085 Bernie Konz gives the thumbs up as another vehicle is successful on the slippery corner.

ACL 4097  The number plate says it all as the Jeep struggles in the mud.

ACL 4110  Delica van in the articulation holes.

ACL 4118  Powering through the mud

ACL 4169  

ACL 4179  

ACL 4192  4WD gold at the end of the rainbow.

ACL 4200  Happy playing in the mud.