Whanaungatanga

Last weekend, our whānau had a great time joining in at Waka ama at Roto Kaniere. It was fun and a challenging way to connect with the water, the land, and the culture.

We arrived at Roto Kaniere, also known as Lake Kaniere, on Saturday morning. The lake is located in the West Coast region of New Zealand, surrounded by native forest and mountains. It is a beautiful and peaceful place to enjoy nature and relax.

We practiced a few times on the shore before we got into the water. We learned how to synchronize our paddling, somehow to steer the waka, and how to communicate with each other. We also learned some Māori words and chants that helped us to keep the rhythm and spirit.

We spent the other time enjoying the lake and the company. We swam, played games and shared stories, songs, food and laughter with other whānau. We felt a strong sense of connection and belonging. We had a great time to be had by all!

We look forward to the next event together. We hope to meet more whānau and learn more about Waka ama and Māori culture. Waka ama is more than a sport, it is a way of life.