Gateway 2025
By OBHS Gateway | Posted: Thursday October 16, 2025
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our Gateway employers for the quality experiences and amazing opportunities they have provided our students this year.
Your support plays a huge role in helping our boys gain valuable insight into the world of work, develop practical skills, and explore potential career pathways.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing some of our students’ stories and highlights from their time with their host employers — showcasing the great partnerships and learning experiences made possible through the Gateway Programme.
Matthew Parker
From my time at SouthAir, I have learnt a lot of skills that are going to stick with me for life. During my placement at SouthAir, the skills I developed ranged from completing 50- and 100-hour services, conducting underbody checks, removing wings, and learning how to remove rivets and clean wheel bearings. I’ve also gained a lot of knowledge about aviation tools, ranging from micrometres and Barfield testers to gap feelers and much more.
It has been a real eye-opener to actually work on aircraft that you normally only see flying thousands of feet in the air. Experiencing the work environment has given me valuable insight into what my future could look like, and for that, I am very thankful.
My experience at SouthAir has opened my eyes to a possible future in aviation — a pathway I might never have considered without my Gateway opportunity. Although I’m still not certain what I want to do, I know that whatever it is, the skills I have learnt through Gateway will transfer across and give me a step ahead of others.
Eddie Burgess
My time fencing with Dwayne Young has been a very valuable and rewarding experience. Over the course of my work, I have gained a wide range of practical skills and hands-on knowledge that will be useful in many areas. I have learnt important techniques such as how to properly install fence posts using a digger, how to work safely and efficiently around heavy machinery, and how to ensure each post is placed straight and secure. Additionally, I have developed skills in tying off wire and joining wire together — crucial parts of building strong, long-lasting fences.
Throughout the job, I have had the opportunity to work with a variety of tools and equipment. Some of the main equipment I have used includes a New Holland tractor, a digger, and a spinning jenny. I have also regularly worked with hand tools such as hammers and nails, as well as materials like wire, netting, wooden posts, and strainers. Each of these tools and materials plays an important role in the fencing process, and using them has helped me gain a deeper understanding of how to complete fencing tasks efficiently and to a high standard.
My hours with Dwayne have been long and hard — if I didn’t have rugby on Friday, I would be doing 10-hour days, but I’ve only been doing 8-hour days, and in that time, we’ve still managed to get a lot of work done.
Overall, working alongside Dwayne has not only improved my technical abilities but also taught me the importance of teamwork, safety, and attention to detail. I’m grateful for the experience and the skills I’ve gained, which will be valuable in future work opportunities.
I would like to sincerely thank Dwayne Young for his guidance and support throughout my fencing experience. His expertise and patience made my time both enjoyable and educational. This opportunity has been incredibly valuable in helping me develop practical skills and gain confidence working in a real-world setting.
I highly encourage other students to take advantage of the Gateway experience offered at Otago Boys’ High School. It provides an excellent chance to learn hands-on skills, explore different career pathways, and build important workplace experience. Gateway truly bridges the gap between school and the workforce, preparing students for future success.
