Kaitāia’s #JustSaying waka ama team, back, Ihapera Van Dijk, Keiti Reti, Merenia Rudolph (coach), Kiani Rawiri, front Manawhakaritenga Petersen, Tiana Pirini, Khloe Kupa, at the TransTasman Gubbi Gubbi Championship in Australia.
Kaitāia’s #JustSaying waka ama team, back, Ihapera Van Dijk, Keiti Reti, Merenia Rudolph (coach), Kiani Rawiri, front Manawhakaritenga Petersen, Tiana Pirini, Khloe Kupa, at the TransTasman Gubbi Gubbi Championship in Australia.
Tamariki kaihoe (paddlers) from Kaitāia came away with a swag of medals - 151 in total - from the transtasman Gubbi Gubbi Championships in Australia earlier this month.
Twenty five youngsters aged 8-13 travelled from Kaitāia to Te Whenua Moemoea (Australia) this school holidays to compete at the 2023 transtasman Gubbi Gubbi Championships.
The four teams from Ngā Hoe Horo Outrigger Canoe Club Pawarenga had been training at least three times a week since February for this competition.
Billy Bellass, Nopera Baker, Tiaaki Pirini, Isaiah Ngamanu-Korewha , Jackson Rogers and Rihari Harris with their medals at the transtasman Gubbi Gubbi Championship in Australia.
The weather for most of the had been horrific with cyclones, torrential rain, 30 knot+ winds and a cold winter often pushing them from their training ground at Lake Ngatu to local gyms, tennis courts and swimming pools in order to safely maintain fitness and team cohesion.
These tamariki have also worked hard to fundraise for this trip running raffles, stalls and catering. “The skills gained by these little paddlers over the last seven months will set them up well for a life of good work ethic and a sense of community” Ngā Hoe Horo chairman Tony Clutterbuck said.
Clutterbuck said tamariki as young as 8 actively participated in things like catering for Te Hurihanganui noho marae.
The #JustSaying team of Ihapera VanDijk, Nevaeh Harris, Manawhakaritenga Petersen, Keiti Reti, Kiani Rawiri, Khloe Kupa at the transtasman Gubbi Gubbi Championship in Australia.
“They started off a bit all over the place but quickly learnt to work as a team in the kitchen, the importance of good hygiene and even the details of how big to cut the vegetables.”
They have learned to work for their goals in and off the water and know that good things take perseverance.
In addition to training and fundraising they also participated in several waka wānanga to learn more about the history and tikanga of the places they paddle in.
Katene Ericksen, coach of the Karati On Tour team said: “It’s really important that our tamariki have a holistic understanding of what they do so it’s not just about competing.”
They have been led by a dedicated team of volunteer coaches and managers to keep an eye on the prize and what a prize they’ve come home with.
Billy Bellass, Rihari Harris, Nopera Baker, Tiaaki Pirini, Isaiah Ngamanu-Korewha, Jackson Rogers at the Australian waka ama competition.
“One hundred and 51 medals is our haul for this campaign,” Hūne Rapihana, the coach of Kore Taringas (No Ears) said.
Merenia Rudolph, coach of #JustSaying said that while the organisation of the race programme is quite different to what Aotearoa is used to, it was really awesome to see the tamariki able to mix up with other clubs and teams from Australia to get more race experience with the more relaxed approach to entries.
Taz Morgan, coach of the Mauri Midgets said: “We are so incredibly grateful to all of our sponsors, our community, our whānau and of course our young kaihoe for really getting behind this dream that we had in January and turning it into a reality.”
The tamariki of Ngā Hoe Horo have some big goals for next year including a weekend of whānau waka fun and competition hosted at Herewaka Taipa in February next year.
With the support of Matakairiri hapū they are are looking forward to hosting local schools and clubs from around the country for the first ever TOA Junior Championships in February.
The Kore taringa team - Tiaaki Pirini, Nopera Baker, Billy Bellass, Isaiah Ngamanu-Korewha, Jackson Rogers, Tiana Pirini, Rihari Harris, at the transtasman Gubbi Gubbi Championship in Australia.
