The outdoor education programme connecting kids with their awa

Springing to life in the central North Island’s Kaweka and Kaimanawa ranges, the Mohaka River steadily builds steadily over 172km, burbling through forests, tumbling down narrow gorges and ambling past farm paddocks before meeting the Pacific roughly mid-way between Napier and Mahia Peninsula.

With riverside campgrounds, long stretches of thrilling whitewater rapids, and deep pools stacked with fat trout, the Mohaka is an adventure playground for visitors.

As one of two local guides employed by the Mohaka River Rafting company, Rebecca King loves her job introducing adventurous types to the river. But it wasn’t lost on her that visitors were soaking up all it has to offer, while many locals – particularly young people – were effectively shut out due to barriers such as costs and lack of equipment.

Determined to provide young people in her hometown with an opportunity to develop the same connection to the river that shaped her own life, Rebecca established the Toitoi Manawa Rangatahi Programme – a seven-week course that provides outdoor education, cultural enrichment and life lessons.

For Rebecca, it’s a kaupapa built on her strengths and people, using the taonga found in her backyard.

“It’s more than just getting in a raft. Having a relationship with the awa helps you understand the mauri it holds.”

Designed to help young people learn, connect and grow, the programme is based on and around the river, following it from inland Mohaka, down to the sea.

Practical activities such as rafting, horse-trekking, fly-fishing and tree-planting are complemented by sessions on tikanga, traditional kai gathering, navigation, and the history and connection to the awa, maunga and moana of the three local iwi (Ngāti Pāhauwera, Ngāti Hineuru and Ngāti Tūwharetoa).

“Rangatahi learn about history, whakapapa and kaitiakitanga — it’s about knowing who’s been before us and who will come after.”

A $6,000 grant from Meridian’s Power Up Harapaki Fund helped Rebecca get the course’s successful pilot programme up and running.

Power Up Harapaki provides grants for projects in the communities closest to Harapaki wind farm that support sustainable community development.

Toitoi Manawa was a perfect fit, with the grant helping to provide students with outdoor clothing and equipment such as sleeping bags, sleeping mats, tents, fishing rods and head torches, as well as course resources such as books and stationery.

Many of the teens on the course experienced firsts - from rafting and fishing to cooking shared meals.

“They accomplished a lot - overcame fears and came out their comfort zones,” says Rebecca.

A great example of that was the level of communication in the programme’s group chats as the kids came out of their shells.

“We started with the bare minimum, now we are all having full on conversations. What started as a group of individuals is now a big whanau. These rangatahi are confident within themselves - they are out and about wearing their new clothing with pride.

“The programme gives them an insight into future career paths, but also into who they are.”

Power Up funding also supported the environmental restoration elements of the programme, contributing to the purchase of the compost, spades and water crystals used in planting of native seedlings donated by the Ngāti Pāhauwera Development Trust.