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Mahuika Rawiri (Mahu) of the Tamaki Herenga Waka Trust. The trust supplied the waka and Mahu led the expedition down the river.Participants learned how to work in sync while paddling the waka, before getting on board.
A group that included teachers and principals from local schools took to the waters of the Weiti River recently in a waka.
It was the first waka experience held locally and was launched by the community marae, Te Herenga Waka o Orewa. The initiative, a collaboration between the marae, the Sir Peter Blake Marine Education and Recreation Centre in Long Bay (MERC) and the Tamaki Herenga Waka Trust, is designed to offer schools an authentic experience to strengthen relationships and improve knowledge.
Among the 16 participants in the February 29 paddle were the principals of Whangaparaoa and Orewa North schools and several teachers – many of them first-time paddlers.
In turn, they will offer school staff, and ultimately students, the inspiration to participate in future waka experiences.
MERC programme manager Andrew Mount said a health and safety briefing would be replaced by a talk about the most important things to protect – such as yourself, others, the waka and gear, and the environment.
“Health and safety has become about avoiding and prohibiting, and in my view it’s gone too far,” Andrew said. “The important thing is to get mud between our toes – it’s far more dangerous not to do that, as young people don’t learn how to manage risk and take responsibility. To do so builds self esteem.”
The vessel, which was launched from the jetty below the marae, was a fibreglass waka tangata – a modern version of the type of waka that was traditionally used every day for transport and fishing – described as “a people mover” by Mahuika Rawiri of the Tamaki Herenga Waka Trust. The carvings on the bow represent a range of iwi.
Mahu who has been involved with waka since childhood, took the paddlers through the basics of how to paddle the waka, as well as explaining his connection with waka and how Auckland’s history is entwined with the use of these craft.
The event took place in Seaweek.
