Waka training a rare sight on Tahunanui Beach

Friday, 17 January 2020

A waka tangata crewed by youth from Te Tauihu iwi Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō drew crowds of curious onlookers at Tahunanui Beach this week and provided a rare sight for commuters along Rocks Rd.

Launched by the iwi at Rotoiti in November, Te Haeata, which translates as 'a new dawn', was in Whakatū with the iwi's flagship cultural leadership programme for young people, Mana Rangatahi.

The programme, now in its sixth year, sees about 30 rangatahi travel to wahi tapū, or areas sacred to the iwi, across the top of the south for a week of intensive training focused on language and cultural revitalisation. Past wānanga have been held at Kaiteriteri, Motueka, Tōtaranui/Queen Charlotte Sound, Rotoiti and Anamahanga/Port Gore.

Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō cultural advisor Kiley Nepia said the interest from the community during their week in Nelson had been overwhelming and had paved the way for conversations that otherwise would not have taken place.

**READ MORE:

* Waka's dawn launch heralds new era for Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō

* Look who's talking: Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō

* Riding the wave of cultural revitalisation**

'People have been really interested and keen to learn more. The sight of the rangatahi training on the beach alongside our beautiful waka tangata is something I guess you don't see everyday [and] the response has been really heartening.

'It's also been quite emotional and significant for us to be paddling Te Haeata in Te Tai-o-Aorere (Tasman Bay). To be out there with our rangatahi, to paddle the same waters as our ancestors, it's been magic and hard to put into words really. Despite the hardships, we're still here, we're revitalising our traditions and we are steadily building the next generation of leaders.'

The group made a special visit to Natureland on Thursday, where they were hosted by Ngāti Koata Trust tuatara handler Mike Elkington.

Nepia said it was experience the rangatahi would never forget.

'We're just so proud, of our own rangatahi for putting in the hard yards but also of the work being done in this area by other iwi. It's another meaningful connection we have made.'