Waka Ama hoe made by NorthTec students

Media release: Waka Ama hoe made by NorthTec Future Trades students will be part of the action at the 2010 World Waka Ama Competition

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Some of the NorthTec students who are crafting hoe (paddles) for use in their Waka Ama competitions on the short award boat building courses at Future Trades will be using them at the world Waka Ama competition in New Caledonia next year.

Parihaka Sports Club organiser Gail Ambler, who is herself a graduate of the short award boat building courses at Future Trades, says that her club members have a busy race programme from now until the Waka Ama national competition in January, with some club members heading to the world competition next year for the first time.

The most recent group of graduates from the Future Trades short award course in boat building were presented with their hoe and a certificate for completing their course at Future Trades on 7 September.

Course participants have experienced a real sense of achievement from making the hoe that they will go on to use in competition.

“I absolutely enjoyed the course,” said Tania Moriarty. “It gave me an insight into all the work that actually goes into making a paddle. The bonus is that we come away with one that we've designed and made to meet our own needs - and it's cheaper than purchasing one.

“I already have my name down for the next course, that's how much I enjoyed it.”

The students had plenty of praise for NorthTec tutor Roger Rhodes, who they described as very patient.

“Given that it was a first with power tools for most of us he was very brave as well.”

Another course participant, Tracey Gilmore, whose father also took the course, described how good it was to learn skills in a new area.

“When I was at school, wood work and technical drawing was still very much a "male" domain.”

Ms Gilmore’s father loved the course, she said, and has enrolled in another course on making dinghies with course tutor Roger Rhodes.

“It goes to show that anytime is a good time to learn something new. Dad turned 73 this year and this would be the first course he has done in a good 20-30 years!”

Ms Gilmore also paid tribute to Roger and his ability to create a safe learning environment.

“You knew he was there for you to answer any question, no matter how silly, however, he still had us doing the business, the work!! The course was both fun and a challenge!”

NorthTec’s short award course in boat building course is held on one evening a week at the Future Trades campus over a 10-week period.

This is the second waka ama hoe crafting course run by North Tec. Another course is currently underway and a fourth course will begin next month.

“The Waka Ama hoe crafting course has proven to be very popular,” says NorthTec’s boatbuilding tutor Roger Rhodes.

“It is a great introduction to boatbuilding and the students make something personal and highly symbolic that is also useful in their Waka Ama pursuits. I hope that it is just the start of their boatbuilding journey.”

As a mark of their appreciation for Mr Rhodes’ efforts the students on the most recent course presented him with a glass waka during their certificate presentation.

ENDS

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