The Services Programme is supported by both the Ministry of Education and the New Zealand Defence Forces Youth Developments Unit South, based at the Burnham Military Camp.
The programme receives a grant a little under $100,000 per year which pays for the staffing involved, the uniform, the excursions they go on and anything else they may need when they are out in the field.
Manukura (Principal) of the school Dr Peggy Burrows says the whole philosophy of the Services Academy is to create pathways that are meaningful.
At Haeata they live and breathe by the saying 'service before self' and that is what the services academy is about.
"They learn to rely on each other as a team, there's that real sense of belonging and real sense of purpose."
Included in the programme, along with educational outcomes, is a strong focus on developing self-discipline, maturity, collaborative work, routine and problem solving. They also learn how to establish and maintain positive and respectful relationships with others.
Ākonga (students) participate in their normal day to day learning in class with others as well as working alongside the Kaiārahi Ope Katua (Leader of the Defence Programme) Rawiri Waaka for academy work and activities.
Waaka joined the army in 1997 as an infantry soldier, during his time he joined a unit called youth development South dealing with LSV's and blue light courses.
He has been a foundation teacher at Haeata since its opening in 2017 running the Services Academy.
He says a normal day looks like 22 Services students forming in lines checking they have the correct uniform on, inspiring them with a few words to start their day and off they go to classes.
During academy time they work on fitness as well as their level two and three booklets, each have 24 credits attached to them.
