‘Giving the rangatahi a go’

Te Wharau students were on the water yesterday with Horouta Waka Hoe Club’s Gabby Wainohu and Kerry Mankelow-Ngatoro in the double-hull waka. This picture would not have been possible this time last year as the effects of Cyclone Gabrielle had torn through the area, devastating it.Picture by Liam Clayton

The widespread cyclone devastation that ripped through the Gisborne and wider communities is still being felt a year on as the recovery continues.

But for a group of Te Wharau School senior students yesterday, it was all about fun and participation on the Waimatā River that 12 months ago was filled with woody debris  and far too dangerous for water users.

The kids were taking part in an annual waka ama experience and the joy on their faces as they paddled in double-hulled waka up and down the river said it all.

That excitement was in stark contrast to this time last year.

Self Storage Gisborne Horouta Waka Hoe Club members Gabby Wainohu and Kerry Mankelow-Ngatoro — champion waka ama paddlers — were on hand to guide these first-timers on a river that has been forever changed by the dramatic events of 12 months ago.

“The river itself is really different,’ Wainohu said.

“There’s been a lot of trees that have moved, there’s different divots in the mud and there’s a lot of different stuff going on.”

Wainohu said it was really good to be out on the water to show the young would-be paddlers what the sport is about . . . “giving the rangatahi a go and exposing them to Māori roots and to see what else is on offer”.

“Not only is this available through their kura right now but in summer we have a lot of rangatahi training with clubs here, with Horouta, YMP, Mareikura and Ūawa that go away to the national champs in Hamilton.

“It’s about exposing them to that environment so maybe, if they’re interested, they will get a bit more competitive and further their sporting journey.

“Hopefully, they enjoy it and go away to the world champs some day.”

The kids enjoyed their time on the water with the experienced club members so much that Wainohu said it was difficult telling them their time in the waka had come to an end.

“Just hearing that they had a lot of fun on the water and them asking ‘can we go again? Can we go with the next class? But we have to say that ‘you only get one go right now’.”

Wainohu is heading back to Waikato University where she is studying psychology in sports science but is looking forward to “being able to go away to gain my tohu and bring it back to the community or even integrate it while I’m studying on that journey”.

This annual primary school waka ama event was cancelled last year due to the cyclone — the combination of fast currents and river debris.