By SCOTT KARA
Peter Williams breaks outrigger paddles for breakfast.
The Otara man broke three at the recent national outrigger championships while competing as part of a six-person team from South Auckland.
But it was worth it because the team won the open event.
"Too much power," say two of his team-mates, Jeff Ahkuoi and Keri Stevens.
Most of the team are involved in a small but booming business making outrigger paddles at a factory in Otara's industrial area.
But breaking paddles is not the only reason they have to make them.
At $180 a pop the paddles were expensive for many in South Auckland keen to take up the sport. The Otara business makes them for $150.
Proceeds from the business also help to pay travel bills to competitions in New Zealand and overseas.
The six-man team, which also includes John Papali'i, Gauta Fonoti, Jean Te Tohu and coach/paddler Les McGrath, will compete at the world sprint championships in Townsville, Australia.
As a sport, outrigging is popular in Northland and is growing elsewhere because the sturdy boats can be used all year. Some craft can handle 6m seas.
Many Otara paddles are sold in Samoa, and since the South Auckland team won the national event, the paddles have created interest around New Zealand.
"Because they are national champions everyone is keen to see what the paddles are like and if that's why they won," says Mr McGrath.
He says most of the paddlers have Polynesian backgrounds but it is something that anyone aged from 10 to 60 can do.
"If you're from any island nation there is a real affinity with the water and that's what makes it so inviting."
Tutor George Berking, who oversees the Otara business, learned paddle-making from a Tahitian.
He now plans to start a work scheme for those wanting to learn the craft.
Manukau City Council is even getting in on the act with plans to open up more waterways around the city so outriggers, other water sports and recreation seekers can get out on the water.
Brigitte De Ronde, senior environmental policy planner, says the council, like any council around New Zealand, aims to get as much access to the coast for residents as possible.
It plans to have the Esplanade Reserve Strategy in place in the next couple of years.
This will give priority to land around the coast which will become reserve for both recreational and environmental reasons.
"It's part of New Zealander's heritage that they expect access to the coast which goes back to things like the Queen's chain."
She says that opening areas on the coast and connecting them together is one way the council can increase access to the water in Manukau.
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