It was both an adventure and an environmental pursuit, with he and his river journey colleagues taking samples of water from six different sites along the way.
It was all about seeking out what he called sensitive macroinvertebrates in the water, from the main river as well as the tributaries.
The number of varieties and quantities, for the higher the macroinvertebrate score, particularly for the more sensitive species, the healthier the ecosystem is at the site.
Effectively, they are the stuff of life in the food chain and it is essential they are fine and well, and in the right shape.
And after what he saw, particularly in the high reaches of the river terrain, all is looking pretty good on the stretch.
"The river is in pretty good condition from what we saw," Mr Tait said.
In fact in the most distant and isolated spots, as he expected, it was "superb".
So much so there was no question about its drinkability.
"It was beautiful to drink."
The samples he and his rowing companions, like Shaun Gilbert and his daughter Amy, took from the diverse range of sites and conditions have been sent off to a Wellington laboratory and he is hopeful of getting the results back in about 10 days.
He is pretty confident they will reveal the Ngaruroro is in good shape.
Mr Tait was helicoptered in to Boyd's Valley in the Kaimanawa Ranges, high in the central North Island, and was joined by the Gilberts who accompanied him for the first two days of his journey to the sea.
"The river up there is just pristine," Mr Tait said, adding there was no sign of human activity or farming.
"And it's the impact of human activity that affects the rivers," he said - as he saw as the expedition oared closer to the coast and the farms appeared, and the signs of run-off.
They also came across a couple of other river travellers who caught Mr Tait's attention, given his dedication to getting the skill-up and safety message out to other canoeists and kayakers in his role with Kiwi Adventure.
The pair were not exactly fully equipped or prepared for what they were doing - going through a rough section without helmets was the main thing that caught his eye.
"Not good."
After two days Mr Tait was joined at Kuripapango by canoe and raft crews made up of representatives from local iwi, Forest and Bird, Fish and Game as well as Whitewater New Zealand and the Ministry of the Environment.
"It was a great experience for everybody," he said.
"You can read all the reports you like about it but you have to see it - and from what we saw it is looking pretty good up there."
Seeing a couple of healthy blue ducks enjoying their fresh, clean and bountiful backyard was a highlight.
The river venturers used solid canoes as well as inflatable rafts and literally soaked up some challenging white water sections.
They also overnighted either under canvas and on the riverbanks, or the "luxury" of a basic and modest tramping hut.
Creature comforts came from open fires and boiling billies.
The group voyaged down to Whana Whana and on the Sunday he was back where he had started - paddling alone.
"I got to the sea about 11am on the Monday," Mr Tait said, adding that in climatic terms the timing had been pretty well spot-on.
"It only turned a bit foul on the last day."
He said the experience was made more satisfying by the fact he was able to take part in the scientific side of the whole water quality and conservation factor.
"We have to look after our rivers - we have to make sure we can protect them."
Touching again on the sight of the two helmetless paddlers, Mr Tait said Kiwi Adventure was now in the process of organising summer kayaking programmes to get people "up to scratch" on water safety.
As well as get more young people involved in more adventurous exploits than chasing robots or aliens on game screens.
As for river voyaging, Mr Tait said he was now thinking about taking on the Rangitaiki River which, at 155km, is the longest river in the Bay of Plenty and runs from northern Hawke's Bay to the east of the Kaingaroa Forest, emerging into the sea near Thornton on the Bay of Plenty coastline.
"Yeah, I'd like to try that one."
