Vision coming to life

Riding high: The grand final winners of the first Ngati Porou primary school surfing championships in Wharekahika were a team from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kawakawa Mai Tawhiti. Another team from the school were third. From left are Billy King, Laken Subritsky Te Awhitu, Massey Henderson, Arohaina Edwards, Valley Pahuru-Biddle, Tikirau Taiapa, Te Aomania Hooper, Maui Black-Hovell, Taihuka Waitoa-Te Purei and Zion Hooper. Picture supplied

The first Ngāti Porou primary school surfing competition was not just about catching waves.
It was also about connecting whānau to taiao (the environment) and the moana (ocean) through the shared experience of surfing, organisers say.
Ninety tamariki from nine schools took part in the event run by Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti and Gisborne Boardriders Club (GBC) at Wharekahika/Hicks Bay. 
The youngsters came from Mangatuna in Uawa all the way to Te Kura Mana Māori o Maraenui in the Ōpōtiki district.
“My wairua (spirit) is overflowing. I can’t even put it into words,” Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti manawakura adviser Shyla-Drew Taiapa said.
“What I took away from this day was oranga taiao, oranga whānau — healthy environment, healthy family — our whānau reconnecting with the taiao and remembering how our taiao can sustain us holistically. 
A container of 20 surfboards and 60 wetsuits has been placed at Wharekahika beach as part of an initiative by GBC to provide surfing opportunities for communities that would otherwise face barriers to taking part. 
Two other such containers — funded by Trust Tairāwhiti — are located in Tokomaru Bay and Waipiro Bay.
“The impact that this resource has provided for our whānau here in Wharekahika and other surrounding communities all along the Coast — from Ruatoria to Maraenui — is huge,” Shyla-Drew said.
“Toddlers to teenagers to 65-year-old pākeke utilise the gear. I have loved seeing whānau, especially the dads, out there day in and day out practising with their whānau.”
GBC surfing development manager Flo Bub said: “we are incredibly proud to see our vision coming to life; tamariki and whānau connecting with the moana and each other sharing the stoke.
“This wouldn’t be possible without the local champions such as Shyla-Drew Taiapa from Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti.
“ We are here to help them on their journey — running surfing programmes and initiatives by themselves. 
“We have learned there’s lots more appetite from communities around the Cape and we are looking forward to duplicating what we have done the last few years up the Coast.”
Taking part in the surfing comp were five-person teams from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Mangatuna, Makarika School, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Waiu, Ngāta Memorial College, Pae o Te Riri, Te Waha o Rerekohu Area School, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Kawakawa Mai Tawhiti, Te Kura o Potaka and Te Kura Mana Māori Maraenui. 
Each team had 20 minutes for all members to catch a maximum of two waves. Teams were scored on their time — they received extra points for finishing early— stance, pop-up on the board, how long they rode the wave and their “stoke”.
Winners of the grand final were TKKM o Kawakawa Mai Tawhiti, with TKMM o Maraenui second and another team from TKKM o Kawakawa Mai Tawhiti third.
 In the Pool B finals, Potaka Blue were first, Rerekohu Black second and Te Waiu third.
Bub said plans were already in place to expand this kaupapa by hosting the first Ngāti Porou East Coast secondary schools surfing competition, as well as a Te Aho Matua Eke Ngaru competition to be held completely in te reo Māori. 
“Surfing competitions along the Coast provide more opportunities for whakawhānaungātanga (establishing relationships), as well as being physically active within the natural environment.”