I just want to extend a huge thank you to the members of the waka ama club that helped to make it possible to use a double hulled waka on a six day journey with youth at risk.

For those of you who are not aware of what I am talking about, I will explain.

Rod Barker and I were employed by Whenua Iti Out door Pursuits Centre to run a six day journey with 9 youth from the top of the south. We felt it would be a great opportunity to use waka instead of sea kayaks for the water section.

Nelson waka club lent mangopare, their 1990 to us and Roni made some special kiato, thank you to them.

Rod and I started at Cannon Downs carpark with the group and tramped for 3 1/2 days (one day stuck in a four bed hut because of the torrential rain, with 12 people) to the top end of the Abel Tasman National Park.

From there we dropped down to the sea at Awaroa and then walked on to Onetahuti by moon light (full moon) on our fourth day, this felt special.

Our waka was waiting for us which was a wonderful sight, thanks to Roni for rganising 12 paddlers and thanks to those club members for giving up your time to paddle the waka up to Onetahuti. Those paddlers water taxied out with Wilson's Abel Tasman Experiences, who gave the paddlers a really cheap price to transport them back to Kaiteriteri, thanks to Wilson's.

On our fifth day we watched dolphins in the bay while we were eating our breakfast, what a treat. One hour later we were ready to launch, Tony, Todd and Zack arrive to transport our bags to Apple Tree Bay our next camp site, thank you to them, especially Tony for the use of his boat.

As soon as we launched we paddled with the bottle-nose dolphins that we saw earlier, this was very special for all of us. For most of the young people it was the first time they had been in a waka and their first experience with dolphins, it was magic.

From Onetahuti we made great time paddling south together to Apple tree Bay and then the next day finishing at Stephens bay on the sixth day.

This was an exceptional experience for the young people and for us as instructors, it was made possible by the support from the waka ama club, thank you. There is huge value for groups using waka ama, to develop team work, to learn about the cultural aspects of waka and to experience the ocean in a safe and supported way.

I hope we as a waka club can share this experience with more groups in the future

Ka pai ki ta mahi

Lee-Anne