It might be the school holidays, but hundreds of kids turned up to Waiheke High School on Thursday to catch a glimpse of a special visitor.
Former All Black Dan Carter paid the island school a visit to present a cheque for new sports gear and show off his ball skills.
On any other day this week, the school's hall would've been empty and dead quiet.
But with Carter in town today it was anything but.
"I felt bad bringing them all in on the school holidays, but obviously it was for a good reason," Carter says.
That reason? To present a $10,000 cheque for new sports equipment, after the school won a promotion.
And of course there was a chance for the kids to meet the rugby star and have a bit of a run around.
"When he walked through the doors I was like 'woah'. I can't believe Dan Carter's really here on Waiheke," pupil Sonny Terore said.
The drills even helped Carter to keep up his fitness while away from his new home in France.
"I haven't been able to do a lot of training in my holidays so I doubled up with a wee training session there."
The money is set to go towards new gymnastics equipment as well as plenty of footballs, basketballs and rugby balls.
I'm absolutely delighted with the number of people that have been here today, particularly during the school holidays. And $10,000 worth of sports equipment? Who wouldn't want that," principal Jude Young said.
"I can just imagine the impact it's going to have, and hopefully it'll help inspire some kids to live their dreams and continue with sport or even start new sport with this new equipment, so it's great to give back," Carter says.
Being back in New Zealand means being back in the spotlight wherever he goes, and Carter says while living in Paris he's enjoyed being able to let his hair down a little.
"It's not rugby mad as potentially some of the places in the south of France. So I really enjoy that, obviously working really hard on my rugby but once you leave the training paddock you can escape it and not many people know who you are which is quite refreshing."
No chance of that happening at least while he's here.
Newshub.
