Tonight on Close Up ` life offshore ` a rare glimpse into the dangerous world of the Maui gas platform. Are charter schools the answer for kids no one wants? And this opportunity came up for us to use the power of football and use the brand of Derby County to engage with youngsters. And forget movies and Hollywood ` NZ and books rule supreme at Frankfurt and at home. Due to the live nature of Close Up, captions for some items may be incomplete. ONE News captions by Sam Bradford and Angela Alice. Close Up captions by Richard Edmunds and Pippa Jefferies. The Maui gas platform off the coast of Taranaki helps power the country, but what powers it? It's people such as Josh Smaller, who at 18 bought his own home after just two years working there. But he doesn't spend much time in it; he's mostly on the platform. So what's it like to live and work on such a place? Hadyn Jones with this rare glimpse at this most unusual of working environments. GENTLE GUITAR MUSIC 6.30 Monday morning, and Josh Smaller (22) is ready to go to work. Morning. How are you? He'll be gone for two weeks ` working 12 hours a day, 14 days straight. It's been this way for four years now, so he knows the process ` surrender the cell phone, open the bag, watch the safety video, strap on the suit and hitch a ride to work. We wanted to see life on Maui A, but before we could visit we also needed some kit... and some training. (GRUNTS) If you can correctly escape a submerged helicopter half a dozen times, then you're clear to go to Maui A. I'm alive. Quick history lesson: in 1976, Maui A was built in a Japanese ship yard, then towed 8400km to NZ. It took two months. One year later, in 1977, they got the gas going. And, 36 years on, modern-day Maui A is a 20- to 30-minute flight from New Plymouth airport. It weighs 20,000 tons, its legs are 200m long and its gas is still being turned into power for our national grid. The Maui gas reservoir is vast. It's about 150km2. And over three decades, it's become like the great NZ energy backstop. You see, in winter, when the hydro lakes dry up and we need more electricity, the gas from here is turned into the power that keeps the lights on in Auckland and other places. Josh Smaller is one of 60 staff living on Maui A. His day starts at 5.45 with a safety briefing, and then it's gear on and paperwork. Hey, Macca. How's it going, Josh? You see, if you want to do anything on Maui A, you need a piece of paper approving it first. So, you have a set plan for a week, and all those jobs have to be completed within that week. Sounds good. There you go, mate. Excellent. Thank you. I do two weeks' planning on the beach prior to coming offshore. < 'The beach'? Uh, onshore, in the head office. The well head is the business part of Maui A. It's best explained using colours. Green pipes carry the gas out from under the seabed. The gas and the liquid get split. The white pipes take both 35km to a processing plant near Opunake. It's big volumes and high pressure. That's a pressure indicator. It tells us how much pressure's in the well head. So right now there's probably 2600psi. So, if you can imagine a car tyre's got 45-60 psi, it is a lot of pressure. In the old days, underneath Maui A used to be a prime fishing spot and workers could supplement their meals by dangling fishing lines off here. It's since been banned, leaving the seals with a monopoly on lunch. They just wait for the tide to come up, and then... The big ones priority; the older boys. They jump up on to the ledge. On Maui A, there are rules ` you can't drink, you can't smoke, and texting's out too. But you can eat all you want ` even dessert at lunchtime. That's not my plate! ALL LAUGH A lot of the guys sit in the lounge. You know, over dinner you're always having a good yarn; watching the news. I guess it is like your other family, really. When you and the guys are out there, do you talk, like, big-picture stuff? Fossil fuels and the fact that they may run out? Yeah, well, I guess it's... you're kind of delaying the inevitable, really. It's something that's, you know, gonna happen one day, and we have to work towards coming up with other ideas and working towards a more sustainable future. This is our second home. Wiremu has been coming out here seven years. The hardest part is definitely being away from your family. Even though I've done it for so many years, you know, there's... there's never a minute goes by when I'm not thinking about my wife and kids. It feels like... Any, sort of, signs of trouble or anything, I'd definitely be going back to the beach. Lunch is half an hour, so if you eat fast, you can get a game of pool in, or a snooze. Josh Smaller shares a bathroom with five other men... Same old. Same old. ...and a bedroom with two ` Chris reads, Sam reads and eats and Josh goes online. There's, um, wireless internet and Sky TV in all the rooms now, eh? Any other spare time is spent working off the free food. There's nothing to spend your money on on Maui A, so the weeks away from home have helped fill Josh's bank account. And, after initially blowing money on cars, four years ago, aged 18, he bought his first home. Did you go in with your parents? Yeah, I went in with Mum and Dad. It's always good to have a bit of support, you know? Especially buying your own home. It's, like, far out. It's a big step. Got good flatties? A few come and go, but they're good, unless you go offshore for a while and they have a few parties and that. Josh Smaller left school at 16, and he now earns more than most of the teachers who told him to stay in class. There are sacrifices, though ` long hours, no team sports and a life put on hold for two weeks at a time every month. Josh says, for now, it's a price he's ready to pay. The view's amazing ` you can see, like, the Taranaki coastline and the mountain, and you can see the South Island. It's a pretty cool place to work, really. So what do you think? Is the sacrifice of living away from home worth it for the financial rewards? We'd like to hear your views. Go to our website or email us... And we're on Facebook too. Up next, the school with kids in the clubroom, not the classroom. The players will, obviously, come down and, you know, probably do one of the lessons. And they're not learning about football. ALL CHANT HAKA Plus, NZ makes a big splash in the book world. We are not only leaping into the eyes of the old world; we are really socking it in the eye. The power of football ` that's what one UK charter school says it's going to use to get troubled kids re-engaged with education. It's a new concept. In fact, so new they haven't even got their permanent building yet, but they think it will work and say it's only possible because of the freedom charter schools give. Gill Higgins, in her third story on what charter schools are like, went to Derby to take a look at this very different model. Pride Stadium, home to Derby County Football Club, home to victory, achievement, a sense of pride... UPLIFTING MUSIC ...and now home to these kids, who sorely need to be proud of themselves. They aren't successful in mainstream schools. They find it difficult to manage their behaviour in mainstream school and need a different setting. This opportunity came up for us to use the power of football and use the brand of Derby County to engage with youngsters. UPLIFTING MUSIC It's better than Derby Moor. LAUGHTER Because there are less children and no one picks on you. To society, they're problem kids ` expelled or likely to be expelled. In the past, they'd have gone to a referral unit. It would have taken them, but with a huge range of needs, it could do little to re-engage them with education. They need something different. So, you've got some good questions there now, Hasan. What's unique about our school is that we are trying to mimic the mainstream experience. We started off with core subjects ` so English, maths, science. We also include a lot of sport, but giving the academic qualifications. There's something else unique, too ` a direct link with the football club. There's the inspiration of the football team ` it's a big team in the city. It's something that everybody knows about. It's got a bump in the middle ` OK, any idea what that's for? We do have access to one of the stadiums, and our sports coach is a` works for Derby County, so he gets to sneak in things. Come down this side, boys. The players will obviously come down and, you know, probably do one of the lessons. Today, though, they have local Olympic swimming champ Ross Davenport in their English lesson. They're in the stadium's press room, practising writing questions and delivering them. How did you feel when you won your first medal? How long did it take you to get to the Olympics? It's only two weeks in and there are just six students. Eventually, though, they plan on 50 ` definitely no more. We don't want to be overstretched, and we don't want to have youngsters not having a highly personalised, well-supported package. Having more seminar-type lessons, rather than a teacher at the front chalking and talking. From parents, from students, the response has been incredibly positive, because if you're a parent and you have child that's struggling, you want to know that the provision is going to show them a different direction to gain qualifications. I think there's some criticism that by giving kids the chance to work with the football club, you're is actually rewarding bad behaviour? It is something that people say, but the education system has not been a positive experience for them. We need something that's going to turn that around quickly. UPLIFTING MUSIC In secondary school, it's kind of` with the teachers, you don't know` you can't ask them about the things you're struggling with. And here it's just simple and easy because it's just you and the teacher. It's an unusual set-up. Each student gets a learning support aide, and the teachers and the head teacher work in a mainstream school as well as this one. I like students that are perhaps a bit more vulnerable and challenging. I find it quite rewarding working with those sorts of students. It's possible because it's got the funding and freedom of a charter school. I can't think of another mechanism whereby we could have done this, other than as a business ` a money-making enterprise. And my personal philosophy is that education shouldn't be making money for people; it should be there to meet youngsters' needs. That's Matty, and I'm, um, Tratty. So far, the team's looking good. You're convinced free schools are a good idea? I'm not an expert in the education system. But all I can say is that we were presented with the opportunity, we're happy to, you know, back it, and I think it'll be a matter of time ` 12 months, two, three, five years down the line before someone turns round and says, 'Yes, this works.' And those six youngsters that we've been working with for the last three weeks, I can see such a difference in them. To see those young people coming in not feeling very good about themselves and starting to regain a bit of respect and a bit pride in themselves is fantastic. Just ahead ` how this doctor inspired a first-time Kiwi writer. People have said to me, 'You can't be a doctor, come on,' and they kind of laugh at me. He just really inspired me, and I really wanted to help him. And see how more established authors are invading the Frankfurt Book Fair. We're live to Germany next. How did you spend your free time when you were 12? Climbing trees? Skateboarding? Causing mischief? Hana Olds has better things to do with her time. She's just published her first book. It's a story about persistence ` not just Hana's, but also the man who inspired her to put pen to paper. Here's Jehan Casinader. LILTING MUSIC I like all books. I don't mind if it's fiction or non-fiction. It just takes you away, out of this world, to another place. JAUNTY MUSIC It's really exciting. I just look at all the books around me and my heart quickens. Usually, you see so many famous authors' names on the books, but now my name was on a book. I mean, I had to blink again to make sure I could see that right. Hana is the kind of girl who knows what she wants,... Very intense, very determined, very very strong. Hello. How's it going? Good. Well, here's some more books for you. Thank you very much. Have you come in to sign these for me? ...but she didn't expect to become a published author at just 12 years old. The story began when Hana and her mum watched an item on TV ONE's Sunday programme about Lower Hutt surgeon Professor Swee Tan. He came from a small, simple village in Malaysia, and he grew up, in his spare time, working on plantations. He is a humble, inspiring man who has a dream to cure cancer. She just was in tears about his belief that he could cure cancer. And we've had some family connections with cancer, so it hit quite close to home. It really inspired me, and I really wanted to help him. So I just said, 'Well, what about a book?' And, of course, as soon as I said that, she goes, 'Oh yes, I'll do a book! You know, that'll be great.' As soon as I heard the words, I was, like, 'Yep, that's what I'm gonna do.' I was going, 'OK, what's gonna happen now?' To write the biography, Hana needed the professor's help. But he works long hours at Hutt Hospital and is also heavily involved in research. Initially, he said no to Hana. I was just amazed how she kept going back and going back until Swee said yes. Hello there. Gidday, Hana. Hi. How are you? Good, thanks. How are you? I was sort of expecting it to be quite intimidating, but it actually wasn't. Why did you want to become a doctor? I had this belief that I could help people, being a doctor. He was so much easier to speak to than I thought. People said to me, 'You can't be a doctor. Come on,' and they kind of laugh at me. Professor Tan had already turned away other authors who wanted to write about him, but he gave Hana special access to his workplace... In this room we do procedures like skin cancer. ...and he shared his outlook on life. He's very persistent, and if he's got something in mind, he'll do it. Hana believes in Professor Tan's work so much that she's giving all the proceeds from her book to support his research. She sees the big picture, and at times it's pretty overwhelming for her. So for us as parents and the family, it's been trying to help her realise she can make a difference and she can do something. Hana hasn't done it alone. She's had the support of her gifted kids' class. A good book title needs to be catchy. It needs to hook the reader in. Everyone's come on board, and, like, the graphic designer offered her services free, and people offered stuff for the launch free. And so it's got a` It's like the book's got a life of its own or a journey of its own. After 17 drafts, Hana's masterpiece is finally in print and it's selling like hotcakes. 45 on Saturday. (GASPS) We've now done over 250. Really? That's awesome. < It is. But Professor Tan says the story is not really about him. It is a story about Hana. It's not a story about me. I somehow got wrapped up in this whole thing, in being the main character of her book, but it is Hana's journey, and if you just look back, it's her ability to assemble a team around her, and the team believes in what she's trying to do, and the team believes in her. At just 12 years old, Hana many more stories to tell. I don't feel young. I feel sometimes quite old. Hana's book is so popular that it's entering its second print run. If you'd like to get hold of it, we'll have details on our website. And if Hana pursues writing, she could end up in Frankfurt. The Frankfurt Book fair is for publishing what Cannes is for the film industry, and the big focus this year ` NZ. Europe correspondent Garth Bray is there brushing up on his reading and joins me now live. Just how big a deal is this for us, Garth? Guten tag, Sainsbury! is it is a pretty huge deal. This is a place where so much of the publishing world business is done. They negotiated a million-dollar advance for a book about Bob Dylan. For NZ to be centrestage puts them right in the midst of it. How did this come about? There was some talk that New Zealand and Australia would be offered a joint spot here. But we refused that unwanted our own. We stepped in and grabbed a chance. it is highly sought after and a chance to showcase NZ authors and tourism. I've got a prerelease copy of Bill English's speech. He points out that NZers the home of the Lord of the rings. We are offering a prize of a trip to visit Weta in NZ. The message is come and see NZ for yourself, as well as read all about. But we also had cough up some dough to make this work? $6m which sounds like an awful lot of money the funding is only on the four of five days. But the coverage is tremendous. Extensive interviews with German magazines and other publications with NZ authors about their work. The technology that they using inside this fear is funding special ` projection screens. This is a book fair. Are there any real books there? The only books I've seen were strung up as ornaments. In the US now, one in five popular books is sold electronically. But here in Germany it is only one in 50. They still like the feel of a book. But they are interested in what companies like Weta are doing ` taking stories from books and transforming them and doing something different with them. Enjoy yourself, Garth Thanks for the update. Feedback now, and on Facebook we asked if you'd be willing to work on the gas platform. Hela says... Kathy says... Everyone seems to have taken to Josh. Shelley has this... That's NZ Close Up. Captions were made possible with funding from NZ On Air. Copyright TVNZ Access Services 2012