Waka inspires free water safety sessions

Free water safety workshops promoting practical safety skills, leadership, cultural connection and wellbeing within a kaupapa Māori framework are being offered to rangatahi and their whānau across the Far North.

Organisers of the Hine Te Aparangi Waka Safety Project, which aims to keep Far North residents safe, are running the water safety workshops to give people confidence on the water. The project is named after the waka being used in the workshops, which takes its name from Kupe’s wife, Kuramārōtini, also sometimes known as Hine-te-Aparangi.

Workshop participants will learn essential safety practices like how to spot water safety risks, how to identify and respond to an emergency, and the importance of wearing lifejackets. As well as practical sea-faring skills, the workshops will weave Māori pūrākau (traditional stories) told through Ngāpuhi narratives, to connect whānau to ancestral knowledge of te moana.

A highlight of the programme will be the chance for participants to take to the water using their workshop safety skills in Te Waka Hine-te-Aparangi at Waitangi on Saturday 29 November.

The workshop is organised by Te Oho Wairua Journeys Charitable Trust in collaboration with He Puna Mārama, Far North District Libraries.

Designed for school-aged children, youth and whānau, the interactive sessions will be hosted at libraries throughout the Far North and will include free entry, kai, and practical learning activities.

Two Far North community boards have contributed towards the workshops, with Kaikohe-Hokianga Community Board providing $2000 in funding and Bay of Islands-Whangaroa Community Board $5000 in support.

The workshops will run from 10am to 2pm at:

• Kaikohe Library – Friday 14 November
• Paihia Library – Friday 28 November
• Procter Library, Kerikeri – Friday 21 November