A group of Far North youngsters are about to embark on a waka journey from Cape Reinga to Whangarei as part of their mental and physical preparation for the upcoming waka ama championships in Rarotonga.
The kids of Kaihoe o Ngati Rehia, a recently formed waka ama club, are determined to compete at Vaka Eiva later this year.
But there's not a lot of money in their hometown of Te Tii, a Maori settlement in the northern Bay of Islands, so they're resorting to some fairly extreme measures to pay their way to the Cook Islands.
Chief among those is a three-day paddle on open ocean from the Cape to Whangarei - a fundraiser and the ultimate training session.
The 12 young kaihoe (paddlers) will be backed by some top adult paddlers and two support boats.
Kerikeri police youth constable Rob Cameron, who helped get the club off the ground, said the trip would be "a tough ask".
"It's a long way to paddle. I see it as a self-development thing. It'll be a real achievement, even for an adult."
Club founder Danny Kaiawe went further when he addressed the boys ahead of their training paddle last Saturday. "It'll be a life-changing experience. It'll make you stronger, physically and mentally."
The club started two years ago with a pair of waka and old gear borrowed from the police Blue Light programme. It now has close to 80 members ranging in age from midgets to masters, paddling in W1 solo outriggers up to the 12-seater W12.
Mr Cameron said police had lent a hand at first, but the Te Tii community - in particular Mr Kaiawe and his wife Tuppy - had done the hard yards.
"They've put a lot of time into kids who are not always the easiest to deal with, and they're having a big impact. They're really changing attitudes," Mr Cameron said.
"It's something positive happening in the community and these kids are good at it. It also puts them in contact with positive role models, kids and adults, so they aren't just mixing with kids who are in trouble. The parents have come on board too, they're really involved."
The club currently holds the national J16 boys and six-seater 500m titles. "It's all been done on a shoestring with borrowed canoes and gear that's old and heavy. With new canoes and new equipment arriving, watch out Oceania," Mr Cameron said.
Sixteen-year-old Jesse Rihari captains a six-man J16 team, the Bagtown Boyz. He loves waka ama because the sport helps him meet new people, gets him fit and gives him muscles. He hopes to do well in Rarotonga and is looking forward to his first plane flight - but before that there's the three-day paddle to look forward to.
"It'll be a chance for some bonding with the boys. We'll get to know each other a bit more and it'll get us prepped up for Raro."
The paddle will take place between September 28 and October 14, depending on the weather. Kaihoe will be persuading supporters to sponsor them. A hangi has raised $2500 so far towards the $12,000 goal. A variety night is also planned.
A grant from the Northland District Health Board has allowed the club to buy two new waka, made by Moana Nui in Tutukaka and due to be blessed at Te Tii tomorrow. (Sunday Aug 19)The Blue Light waka will be returned to the police for use by another emerging club.
Vaka Eiva starts in Rarotonga on November 23.