Te Koutu kura embraces waka ama

TEAM: Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Koutu in the 2015 Waka Ama Sprint Nationals at Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake). PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

PADDLING has become a strong part of the curriculum for Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Koutu.

The school was one of 97 to take part in the four-day 2015 Waka Ama Sprint Nationals at Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake) last week.

Teacher Mere Ngatai said their students spent as much time as they could on the water.

"We're really lucky we have a great relationship with [paddling club] Hei Matau who are based near Te Koutu and the kids spend a lot of time with the club," she said.

"The students will be on the water at least twice a week and spend time with coaches Ray Timihou and Kelly Korou learning from their world-class experience and gaining tips."

Rotorua Boys' won a gold medal in the under-19 boys' W6 500m final and a silver medal in the under-16 Boys' W6 250m final. They finished ahead of Kelston Boys' High School (Auckland) and Nga Taiatea Wharekura (Hamilton).

Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ruamata and Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Koutu also made A finals yesterday but finished outside the podium.

Mrs Ngatai said they did not have the numbers to fill each race with seniors so they were concentrating on nurturing their juniors.

"Waka ama for our kura is not just a sport. For us it's learning about the navigational skills, the migration of our tipuna and all that korero.

"We are connecting the history about what they did to come here," she said.

"It's about the kids understanding and respecting.

"It's not just winning but respecting the kaupapa here. The whanaungatanga is really awesome too and seeing schools from around the country take part."

Mrs Ngatai is also a paddler and said she loved taking part in waka ama. "It's about being on the water when you paddle together as a team, and feel that cohesiveness, being one. There is also a really spiritual connection between the water and paddler," Mrs Ngatai said.