Cousins take a walk with ancestors

Shaianne and Merritt Stowell with their booklet. Photo / Katee Shanks

Whakatane cousins Shaianne and Merritt Stowell say they are accidental entrepreneurs.

The Whakatane High School Year 11 business studies students formed Streem Innovations at the start of the year and came up with a product concept as part of their Level 1 NCEA curriculum.

Their initial idea to publish a booklet providing information on local bush walks and tracks was simplistic at the start and the cousins said they would have been happy selling 50 booklets at the completion of the process.

However, their concept evolved dramatically with the help of teacher Linda Bonne, mentor William Stewart and Awanuiarangi's Thomas Mitai.

Walking With the Ancestors is the name of the pocket-sized booklet, and its popularity has become evident even before its printing.

"We were introduced to the idea through Mrs Bonne and also shown a similar booklet that had been produced in Nelson," Merritt said. "But it was when Mr Stewart got involved and suggested a cultural component, things really took off."

Streem Innovations and the booklet also came second at the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme Dragon's Den held in June.

The Stowells have completed the walks and offer advice on the length of time each takes, dependent on fitness levels. Within the booklet, each featured walk comes with a QR code that directs users to a YouTube video narrated by Ngati Awa cultural adviser Pouroto Ngaropo explaining the culture and history associated with it.

As well as input from Mrs Bonne, Mr Stewart and Mr Ngaropo, Mr Mitai from Awanuiarangi's Tech Pa, came on board to help with the video.

Hours of after-school time have been spent at the Tech Pa suite in preparation for next week's launch of the booklet.

"It's been really awesome to watch these two youngsters develop confidence in themselves and in their product," Mr Stewart said.

Shaianne said: "It would be a great tool for our tourism market and one people visiting the region would really enjoy."

Walking With the Ancestors will be launched at Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi on Thursday, September 14, at 5pm. The booklet will be sold at outlets in Whakatane.