A night of celebration rang out as the Western Bay of Plenty Cadets Unit – Tauranga Army Cadets won a national award.

The Te Rangatahi Trophy was presented for being the country’s most efficient cadet corps unit by RNZAF Wing Commander Commandant New Zealand Cadet Forces Bruce Creedy.

RNZAF Wing Commander Commandant New Zealand Cadet Forces Bruce Creedy address the cadets at the Te Rangatahi Trophy presentation.

“We look at everything, morale, the value, how the core values, how the units run, what we’re doing in the community,” Creedy said.

All Northern, Central and Southern Army Cadet units competed for the award.

There are 40 units within the Northern area, with 1470 cadets, 122 officers, 55 officer cadets and 91 supplementary staff, RNZN, Commanding Officer Northern Area Lieutenant Richard Mathers said.

“It’s quite a step up to get there,” he said.

Cadet Warrant Officer Macy Svendsen celebrates turning 18.

Cadets range from 13 to 18, but the age to join is usually between 13 to 15, said Cadet warrant officer Macy Svendsen.

Svendsen joined in 2020 and celebrated turning 18 at the presentation, crediting the Cadet Corps for helping her become a leader.

“It taught me to be the type of leader I want to be,” Svendsen said.

She was inspired to join, following in her brother’s footsteps as a sergeant at Tauranga Army Cadets, despite not knowing anything about the army or corps beforehand.

“I thought, ‘why not?’

She is now studying for a level three certificate in police and defence forces at Ohomai in Tauranga and hopes to become a medic in the Defence Force.

“It is my thing,” Svendsen said.

Several Western Bay Cadets have joined the New Zealand Defence Force in various capacities, executive officer, Western Bay of Plenty Cadet Unit squadron leader Tony Young said.

“We have got seven cadets from this unit that have gone in,” Young said.

Tauranga Army Cadets were formed in 1998 with the help of the local territorial force battalion (6th Hauraki) and the community.

One of their former members carried the Queen’s former colours in the colour change ceremony, and one other carried the army colours, he said.

Commander of Western Bay of Plenty Cadet Unit Elisha Crawshaw said the unit was formed in 1998 with the help of the local territorial force battalion (6th Hauraki) and the community.

Crawshaw said the Tauranga Army Cadets have two platoons: Basset, Victoria Cross (VC) Platoon and Apiata, VC Platoon.

The cadet will be collecting donations for Poppy Day, the RNZRSA’s primary fundraising activity and observing dawn service on Anzac Day, he said.