Sea Sisters given thousands from Sport Hawke's Bay to get young girls on the waves

Sea Sisters Holly MacDonald and Niamh Jefferson have been granted funding for their 'Sisters in Schools' surfing programme. Photo / Warren Buckland

Waimarama's surfing Sea Sisters have received $40,000 from Sport Hawke's Bay for their "Sisters in Schools" project.

The Sea Sisters, Niamh Jefferson and Holly MacDonald aim to get girls from Irongate and Waimarama Primary schools, and Flaxmere College out on the waves.

MacDonald said they can't thank Sport Hawke's Bay enough for the opportunity.

"This funding has kick-started our campaign to bring our Sea Sisters kaupapa into the school environment through our Sisters in Schools programme," MacDonald said.

"We are able to access far more participants than we would have ever been able to on our own."

MacDonald said their pioneering programme will give students new experiences, teach water safety, environmental connection and focus on holistic wellbeing.

Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa is a partnership fund between Sport New Zealand and Sport Hawke's Bay that aims to support programmes or projects that focus on play, active recreation, and sport experiences for tamariki and rangatahi.

Jefferson and MacDonald developed the Sea Sister idea in early 2020 hoping to get more young females active.

They said they have created a "safe space" where the girls can find the courage to step out of their comfort zones and learn a new skill.

"Surfing provides a sense of place and belonging that is reached at a holistic level," said MacDonald.

"We believe that through surfing we can help young Māori and Pasifika women connect with the whenua and mōana at their local breaks."

Sport Hawke's Bay community partnership advisor Kate Benny said it's great to be able to support groups like Sea Sisters whose values align with theirs.

"The positive impact of their work benefits so many young females from across Hawke's Bay," she said. "We really encourage organisations to look at the Tū Manawa fund."

Jefferson added that through the sessions connections will not only be made with the students surroundings, but also with other participants.

"Our vision for Sea Sisters is to create a sense of community and sisterhood that carries through all our programmes," she said.