Waipa Primary School's mid winter polar dip

On a chilly Waikato morning students and teachers from Waipa Primary school in Ngaruawahia, Waikato took the freezing plunge into their school pool to celebrate the shortest day of the year.

The school runs a polar dip annually which always brings out the toughness of both teachers and students.

Principal Steve Thackeray tested the water temperature before the dip and revealed that it was a chilly 2 degrees, plus the school had the Waikato wind chill to contend with at the same time.

Koru the State Kiwi Swim Safe Mascot was on hand to encourage participants and to congratulate those that took the plunge.

Most students and teachers only lasted a few seconds in the icy water, but there were one or two that lasted minutes rather than seconds.

What a fun, crazy way to mark the shortest day of the year.

Great work Waipa Primary School!

The start of something extraordinary

Waipa Primary School's mid winter polar dip