The purpose of Hauora Waka Uplift is to increase participation of tamariki and rangatahi with water safety knowledge, tikanga Maori practices and safer paddling through waka ama. In doing so, we want to “UPLIFT” their Hauora.
The activities we are planning to run, is based around waka ama. We want to increase the knowledge of our akonga around water safety: how to read the weather, tides, correctly fitting a lifejacket and making good decisions. We will look at the basics of tikanga around the water and the canoe such as karakia, how to hold the hoe, how to enter and exit the waka. Then we will head out on the moana and experience the true wairua that the ocean has to give us. This will include learning how to work together as a team, coming up with a common goal, showing awhi to one another and some fun races at the end.
Once this has been completed, we want our akonga coming off the water with a massive smile and feeling like they achieved, experienced and learnt something new.