The purpose of this trip was to experience what life is like for Burmese migrants, see Marist faith in action and teach English to the students attending the school run by the Marist Asia Foundation.

Ranong sits on the border of Thailand and Myanmar.

Many people in Myanmar find themselves without sufficient work. They cross Myanmar's porous borders in search of better conditions. Those in the south of Myanmar often cross into Thailand.

The volunteers from Wellington discovered the tension between the Burmese people and the Thai government.

Burmese people - including students - have to carry their passports with them in case they are stopped by Thai officers.

One of the volunteers, Benjamin Prendergast, said the students they taught were the privileged ones, able to attend school instead of working to support their families.

One student, Wine Min Htet, would travel two hours home after school, spend half an hour eating dinner, then startb a six-hour shift on a rubber plantation.

"That shows me how easy my life is compared to theirs, yet he's still so happy," Prendergast said.

Teacher Maurice Atkinson helped organise the trip. He and his wife had lived in Thailand for two years, both of them teaching, and knew the impact that seeing life there could have on the St Patrick's students.

"I thought it would be a really good idea to give New Zealand teenagers an experience of what life was like for teenagers in a different part of the world."

Now that they're back at school, the teenagers are determined to advocate for the Burmese students they met on their trip, whether that's sponsoring the costs of schooling and transport for one student ($20 a month) or fundraising to bring in extra teachers.

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"The worry is that asbestos will still come out of the roof," Rector, Mr Neil Swindells said.

"We've had the Ministry of Education, the medical officer of health and WorkSafe involved, everything we've done has been first rate, but we also need to encapsulate or get rid of the roofs. We would rather get rid of them." Continue reading

The school says Rew, who attended St Pat's from 1998-2002 was a Prefect, a keen athlete, and an all-rounder.

In his final year at St Pat's, he was awarded Victor Ludorum, which is given to a student that has made a major contribution and achieved to a high level in sport.

In the hotly contested annual McEvedy Shield of 2002, he won the 3000m, came second in the 1500m, and fourth in the 800m.

School sources say he then went on to win the 3000m at the Regionals, North Islands and finished his days running in the school's white and blue singlet with second place at the National Secondary School Champs.

Rew also made the National Secondary School Cross Country Team by placing sixth at the School Cross Country Nationals.

On top of his stunning athletics achievements in 2002, Rew rounded off his abilities by winning the Wellington Tennis doubles Champs with fellow old boy James Parker.

Furthermore, St Pat's notes Rew was a prominent member of the Senior A debating team, was top of his class for R.E, and took part in the College production that year.

"Quentin Rew could not have been more of a model St Pat's boy, and can provide current students a positive outlook towards reaching one's fullest potential," the school says.

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"He was a terrific guy - very smart, so he carried the rest of us in the team. He was very eloquent then, as he is now. We went to primary and secondary school together. He's probably done better than anyone else in the class and full credit. It's well deserved". Continue reading

Although pupils were told at an assembly last Wednesday that plain black jackets without writing were acceptable, teachers stood by the gate on Tuesday morning and patrolled at lunchtime to confiscate any non-uniform jackets, he said.

Green, 16, said the regulation jackets lacked the warmth of a puffer version. Continue reading

"Jerry used to get called chicken legs in his early days and once he got called that, and named that, he used to spend most of Friday afternoons in the gym instead of in the classroom," said Peter Wadsworth in an interview on TVNZ.

Wadsworth said Collins was also very good at maths. He topped his year 11 class.

He used his mathematical skills on the field to crack the opposition's lineout codes and predict their moves.

On Saturday there was a college haka in memory of rugby's so-called 'hitman' as St Pat's Town played Rongotai in Wellington.

"He played his first traditional game out here on this ground 19 years ago. And he had a great game," said John Bishop, Collins' former coach.

In keeping with the family's rugby heritage, Collins' nephew played on the wing.

Collins began his secondary education at Tawa College, which is near his home town of Porirua.

He switched to St Patrick's College when he was in year 11.

The following year, just 16 years old, he was in the New Zealand secondary schools' rugby team.

He was captain of the 1998 St Patrick's College first fifteen.

Collins was regarded as one of the hardest players in the game.

"He was uncompromising and that's the job description of a blindside flanker, you know, big tough and ugly - hit first and ask questions later," said Ken Laban, rugby commentator.

Collins was aware of his fearsome reputation.

On occasions he was saddened by it. "There was a time when my aunty had her kids with her and they were afraid to shake my hand because they thought I'd eat one of them."

But many of the tributes have revealed the softer side to the man.

Reverend Nove Vailaau, a pastor in the Congregation Church of Samoa (EFKS), has posted an account of how he remembers Jerry Collins and his migrant family.

"Jerry found himself moulded by those aunties and uncles who came to New Zealand seeking for better portions in life."

"Jerry was a role model to many kids of the To'omaga family, his mother's side, as well as to children of the church community in Porirua especially in the area of rugby."

Vailaau said Collins had a Samoan and Christian upbringing. "He was brought up here at Waitangirua, in a very Christian family of grand uncles and grand aunties who blend Samoan cultural principles and Christian values in a very disciplined manner."

"I remember him very well growing up in the community, doing all the chores any Samoan kid would be told to do around the house and the church community.

"He participated very well and contributed as a son in the building up of this Church community."

Family friends Litea Ah Hoi and Paul Whiting remember Collins' commitment to his hometown of Cannons Creek, north of Wellington.

"Because he was so well known, he would have lots of little kids just hanging around him and would follow him to the corner dairy. And he would buy them all ice blocks," Ah Hoi said.

Jerry Collins played 48 tests for the All Blacks and 74 games for the Hurricanes. After leaving New Zealand in 2008, he turned out for clubs in Japan and France.

His funeral is to be held in his hometown of Porirua, although a date is yet to be set.

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Neal Swindells came to St Pat's from St John's College in Hastings where he had been the principal for 15 years.

"I was brought up a Methodist Presbyterian in a strong Christian family. My wife, Anna, was from a strong Irish Catholic family, so I used to go to mass with her. After my kids were born I decided to commit, so I became a Catholic," he says. Continue reading

"We need to be far more grateful for all we have because they have so little and even that is being taken away from them," said Mareko Ennor, a Year 12 student at St Patrick's College, Wellington.

Mareko described his involvement in the Caritas Challenge as "life-changing", and said the challenge helped him put a lot of things in perspective.

Caritas NZ Director Julianne Hickey says the flooding in the Solomon Islands has made the situation that much more real for the students.

"They are reflecting on the situation there, sending their thoughts, prayers and fundraising for the people of the Solomons," she said.

The Caritas Challenge is an annual event to raise money for charity work in the South Pacific and prior to the severe flooding, was this year focussed on the Solomon Islands.

Caritas' response in place

Mrs Hickey confirmed Caritas New Zealand volunteers are already at work near the flooded areas.

"These floods will have a huge impact on people struggling to survive", said Mrs Hickey.

With no central sewerage system and septic tanks overflowing, Mrs Hickey identified the spread of disease as a major threat.

Most people in the Solomon Islands grow their own vegetables so if the crops have not been destroyed by floods, the threat of contracting illness due to bacteria and viruses present in the effluent is very real.

While winds are still strong in Honiara, the chance of the nearby tropical depression becoming a cyclone remains low.

Image: Twitter @_binbin

Nick Linney died in August after an 11-month battle with a rare form of bone cancer, Ewing's sarcoma.

The 16-year-old Wellingtonian was an inspiration after his diagnosis, through his determination to beat the cancer and the upbeat way he accepted his fate when it became clear he would not make it.

St Pat's teacher MaryAnne Ennor said the power of Nick's legacy was clear when 190 St Pat's students adopted his nickname to become "Team Schnick" at this year's relay. Continue reading

For the past 15 years Neal has been the principal of St John's College in Hastings,

He will take up the position in January 2014 and will be welcomed formally to the College at the beginning of the academic year.

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St Patrick's College Wellington