Community spirit soaring out on the water

Getting out on the water in the Community Paddle Day at Houhora earlier this month. Photo / Shirley Jackson Bradley

Having nearly two dozen children enjoying a full day of watersports-based activity at Houhora last Saturday made the first ever Community Paddle Day an outstanding success.

Event spokeswoman Melanie Dalziel, a Te Hiku Community Board member, said participants at the event, held inside the Houhora Heads on Saturday, October 8, enjoyed a variety of sports and aquatic-based activities with an emphasis on SUPing (stand up paddle boarding), as well as interactive presentations by the local fire service, police, coastguards, St John Ambulance, Whakawhiti Ora Pai Health Services and staff from the Far North District Council.

"Over 20 children participated in the day, some being newbies to the sport of paddle boarding, and, of course, some that were already quite comfortable on the boards. Even some parents that had never tried the sport gave it a go!" Melanie said.

Organisers were pleased with the turnout in numbers considering the bad weather the previous day.

"The day truly was evidence of community spirit in action."

The concept of the Community Paddle Day was designed to encourage children to get active and participate in water sports and get to know their community by interacting with local emergency and health services.

The day was hosted by the Pukenui Paddlers Club, an organisation dedicated to promoting the pastime of stand up paddleboarding in the community.

Melanie said the attitude of the children who attended was pleasing, including a willingness to give things a go, and being very safety conscious on the water.

She thanked the services for attending along with the day's sponsors.