The Te Ara Moana Trust are the latest organisation to become a member of Yachting New Zealand.
The Trust offer school-age children the opportunity to improve their confidence around the water through things like water safety, sailing, kayaking, snorkelling and exploring our waterways. They do it during school hours and regardless of the weather.
The primary objectives are to improve water safety; develop competence, self-confidence and leadership abilities; encourage environmental and community awareness; and widen the recreational opportunities that young people perceive as available to them.
They pride themselves on the relationships with our students and within their community and embed the principles of Āhurutanga (safe spaces); Manaakitanga (nurturing and respecting our environment and our relationships); Hauora (holistic wellbeing) and Kaitiakitanga (guardianship of people, environments and kaupapa) in everything they do.
Their courses run all year round out of the Titahi Bay Sailing Club and use Optimists, body boards, kayaks and a 12.5m keelboat.
They run a basic sailing taster over a five-week period for school children in years 6 and 7 and continue their progression in years 7 and 8. Anyone keen to continue in the sport is then referred to the Plimmerton Boating Club.
"It's great to have another member doing really good things connecting with the local community and engaged with Maori," Yachting New Zealand chief operating officer Andrew Clouston said.