The name Harker has been synonymous with surf lifesaving awards in New Zealand for decades but now the youngest member of the triumphant sporting family has added kayaking to his sporting resume.
Taris Hawker, 16, is a nationally ranked specialist ski paddler with an impressive list of titles, following in the large footprints left in the sand by his dad Kim, aunty Janine, and grandfather Reg - who won five surf race titles.
The Mount College student decided to add more challenges to his already busy sporting life by taking on kayaking in the last year since the family moved from earthquake-hit Christchurch to Papamoa.
"I competed there for a year and a half in surf and would be in training in a full wetsuit and only be able to be out there for an hour because the water was so cold, but up here you are training in Speedos," he said.
"With kayaking it was getting dark at 4.30 there and you had to have a head lamp on training and had two layers of clothing and gloves ... . here I turn up to training most of the time with shirt off and in pants."