He Kura Tī Waka – Maramataka advancing the hauora and performance of Waka Ama paddlers

He nui maunga, e kore e taea te whakaneke; He nui ngaru moana, mā te ihu o te waka e wāhi 
Large mountains cannot be moved, but large mountainous waves can be separated by the nose of the canoe.

As Māori, our connection to awa and the moana is intrinsically linked to every essence of our being. From traversing Te Moana Nui a Kiwa, to our connection to our many atua of wai (water), water has been a provider as much as it has been a teacher. Unfortunately for our region over the past couple of years, we have been challenged by disastrous weather events that have seen the health of our awa and moana deteriorate. The opening whakataukī is related to the moana, derived from our experiences and connection to it. It also is an encouraging statement for all to understand that in the face of these challenges, our communities know and always find ways to overcome these issues. For our awa and moana, there are not many communities that speak this truer than that of our Waka Ama whānau. 
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Paddling on the three rivers of Tūranganui-a-Kiwa is a passion and hobby shared by many whānau who reside in Gisborne and on the East Coast. From the early rises and hustle to get out the door and hit the water, to the post-paddle whanaungatanga signalling a race well had, Waka Ama as a sport has been a unifying force bonding hāpori, whānau, hapū and iwi across generations. 

For years, Māori paddlers of all ages living in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa have dominated the awa and Waka Ama competitions across Aotearoa, showcasing the talent and hard work required to succeed and excel in the sport. Tamariki, rangatahi, adults and masters have represented their region in national competitions and have risen to international acclaim most recently in Hawai’i at the 2024 World Sprint Champs and also throughout the Olympic games in the sports of canoeing and kayaking for a full century. 

The Waka Ama Clubs of Tūranganui-a-Kiwa are leaders amongst local sports clubs for the way they drive health and wellbeing for the Waka Ama community in our region. At the heart of this is an opportunity to backbone our Waka Ama leaders in utilising the sport to further strengthen the connection to te taiao, and explore how Maramataka and te ao Māori principles can enhance waka ama, performance and improve health outcomes for communities in our region. 

The kaupapa? He Kura Tī Waka. 

The name ‘He Kura Tī Waka’ is derived from the ancient karakia (chant) 'Kura Tī Waka Taua', which inspired our ancestors of the Horouta and Takitimu waka while sailing the vast Pacific Ocean. 'He Kura Tī Waka' refers to how a waka resembles a speeding godwit, also known as the kura or kuaka, which migrates through the vast oceans between Siberia, Alaska, and Aotearoa. The kura is one of many environmental indicators our ancestors would look for while voyaging.  

Our tūpuna (ancestors) were closely connected to the taiao, which influenced various practices such as waka navigation, wayfinding, maramataka, and more.  

Healthy Families East Cape has partnered with the wahine of Mareikura Waka Ama Club to trial a new approach using te ao Māori principles and the Maramataka to guide training programs. Te ao Māori principles such as whakawhanaungatanga will also be woven into the program, alongside the indigenous wisdom of Maramataka to nurture a space of returning to our traditional systems to improve wellbeing, performance and connection to our whakapapa and taiao. 

Throughout the past few months, the partnership has continued to develop to include a focus on utilising Waka Ama and Maramataka to connect with wider communities and build our collective wellbeing. 

Healthy Families East Cape Kaupapa Innovator, Hineani Campbell-Collier says that implementing whakawhanaungatanga has also helped create a sense of belonging and a safe space for our wahine to share experiences and work together. Alongside this, the element of values-based workshops are supporting the wahine to thrive. 

The Waka Ama wahine cohort, consisting of roughly 15 paddlers, have been successfully utilising the Maramataka throughout their training and paying attention to the signals of the natural environment. 

“The kaupapa has only just begun, but it has been transformative.” says Hineani. 

To continue to follow our He Kura Tī Waka journey, follow us on social media and also our website. 
 
For any questions, feel free to reach out to our Kaupapa Innovator, Hineani Campbell-Collier at hineani@healthyfamilieseastcape.co.nz ​