Waka helps spread water safety message

SAIL TIME: It was farewell to dry land for an hour or two as this group of students got their turn to voyage aboard the waka as part of a two-day water safety event. PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN

About 100 Hawke's Bay secondary school students have had a taste of sailing the traditional waka way as well as becoming well versed in all-round water safety through a new initiative Te Matau a Maui Voyaging Trust is planning to make an annual and more wide-ranging event.

"It was something we wanted to put together so got in touch with Water Safety New Zealand to see if we could get some sponsorship, and they agreed," trust chairman Piripi Smith said.

To create a comprehensive safety programme the trust contacted the Hawke's Bay Coastguard and Surf Life Saving New Zealand and both agencies were also pleased to get aboard.

"It's all about raising awareness with the students about being safe in and around our waterways in Hawke's Bay."

Between six and eight Year 9 and 10 students from Napier and Hastings secondary schools took part in the two-day programme which got under way on Thursday and wrapped up yesterday.

The students were split into three groups of about 15 and rotated through three activities.

As well as embarking on a sail with the waka the students were run through correct wearing of life jackets, predicting weather conditions and coming to grips with being on the sea and within a working crew.

With the Coastguard they learned how the volunteer organisation operated, had a tour of its Ahuriri base and were run through boating safety rules.

Surf Life Saving staged water activities, focused around safety, at the Pandora Pond.

Mr Smith said some students were selected for their leadership qualities while others had already become involved with water activities.

"Next year we are looking at expanding it to take in primary and intermediate children," Mr Smith said, although everything would be dependent on being able to source sufficient funding.

"It is all about getting the water safety message out there."