Police took on a tough laser tag challenge on Friday against eight Trident High School students.

The encounter at Game Zone in Gateway Drive was organised by Blue Light and pitted the skills of eight Land Skills students from the high school against a police team that included youth aid officer Adam Keno, community constable Rob Jones and some potential police recruits.

The students – aka Strikeforce – played four rounds of laser tag against the police in what Matatā Blue Light chairman Kevin Raynes said was a “great afternoon”.

“Our goal at Blue Light is to break down barriers between police and young people, and we were able to do that. The interaction between young people and police officers was great.

“We played in good jest, and no one got shot.”

The police team won the four rounds of laser tag.

“Luckily our strategies were no match for Strikeforce, and all our background and training paid off,” he said.

The “moving wedge” was one of their tactics with the police team moving towards their Strikeforce opponents in a wedge formation.

“I think a rematch is coming up soon ,though,” he said.

Mr Raynes said usually they would have to go to Rotorua, so it was great being able to organise such an activity locally.

GameZone was very accommodating and opened the centre specifically for the encounter.

The Matatā cadets are the next group scheduled for a game of Blue Light laser tag later this week.

“I’d recommend for anyone to go along to GameZone. It’s a great place, lots of fun and no one gets hurt.

“We need to do more of this stuff with our young people; positive stuff.”

GameZone co-owner Katie Farrington said she was thrilled to host the laser tag showdown.

“It was a great example of the kind of positive, community-focused fun we love to support,” she said.

“We’re proud to support initiatives like this and always happy to provide a platform for groups doing great things in our community.”