Te Ara Kauhoe: Growing Local Swimming Instructors

Te Tairāwhiti is a region rich in culture and connection to whenua and moana.  

However, our swimming education systems haven’t fully reflected that identity. With 53% of our population being Māori and one of the highest youth demographics in the country, it's critical that kaimahi are equipped not only with technical skills but also cultural safety to deliver swimming education for our hāpori. 

Traditionally, swimming instruction has been delivered through mainstream systems that don’t always reflect the identity, language, or lived experiences of our people. That system hasn’t worked for everyone, especially for whānau living in remote coastal communities. But now, that’s shifting. 

In partnership with Comet Swimming Club and Te Mahi Ako, Healthy Families East Cape is enabling a systems change by embedding tikanga Māori and mātauranga Māori into how we grow and support swim instructors, and ensuring this expertise is held within the communities who need it most. It is important to acknowledge the enablers of this kaupapa. This is a pilot and due to this it came at no cost to the tauira that attended. Normally, qualifications like these would cost upwards of $10,000 for a group like those that attended. By removing this financial barrier more of our people were able to take part and gain valuable skills to contribute to long-term change.  

During August and over the duration of two days at Midway Surf Rescue Community Hub and Kiwa Pools, fourteen tauira from across Te Tairāwhiti came together to work through a training that integrated both technical and cultural learning.  

Participants worked toward the NZ Certificate in Aquatics Swim & Water Safety Teacher (Level 3) and the NZ Certificate in Tikanga (Level 2), delivered through the Piki Ake and Kake Ake modules. 

This was more than a course, it was a shift in who holds knowledge, who delivers swim education, and how capability is built. The training responded directly to community-identified needs of having local instructors who can teach tamariki safely in and around the wai, and in ways that reflect their whakapapa, reo, and identity.  

"I’m excited to jump into this kaupapa to upskill myself to ensure our tamariki are safe in the wai, and to encourage whānau on the Coast to be a part of this kaupapa too. The more that are upskilled, the better it is for our tamariki." Said one of the tauira.  

Previously communities along the East Coast had to rely on instructors from outside the region or not offer swimming at all. Participants already play key roles in their communities, kōhanga, kura, and hāpori. This training gave them formal tools to extend their impact, without asking them to leave their identity at the door.  

As one trainee said, “Living by the beach, we already have that relationship with wai and now we’ve got the training to match.” 

The system is also shifting in how learning happens. The course wove in te ao Māori from the outset by exploring maramataka, tapu and noa, and pūrākau alongside pool-based skills. This created a space where tauira felt safe, engaged, and valued.  

One of the participants said that they “Found it awesome and informative. I liked that it came from a kaupapa Māori approach, and it was a good reminder to implement kaupapa Māori into my practice." 

“I used to be shy speaking in public, but the games and whakawhanaungatanga helped me feel at ease,” said another participant. Others shared that stepping outside their comfort zone deepened their confidence. “This kaupapa reminded me that it’s okay to be nervous you just need to stay open and trust that you have what it takes.” said another student. 

This work also supports the sustainability of initiatives such as Taurikura, which currently has just one qualified instructor. Through this training, Healthy Families East Cape is supporting a wider base of local instructors who are not only technically qualified but culturally aligned and already embedded in the values and aspirations of their communities.  

And the ripple effects are already evident. “We’ve been isolated for years and having to bring our kids to town to learn. Now I can take this home to the Coast and eliminate those barriers,” one participant shared. “I want to fill my kete with knowledge and pass it on to our tamariki,” said another.  

Comet Swimming Club lifetime member Rochelle Skuse Somerton says that "Now we’ve got people on the ground that can take lessons in those areas and teach those lessons in a way that really connects with the people in their community." 

From a systems perspective, this kaupapa addresses multiple layers which include access where training is brought to whānau, eliminating cost, and time barriers. Instruction reflects cultural identity and local knowledge. There’s a focus on sustainability where the workforce grows from within. Ties are also being strengthened between kaupapa Māori and system-level qualifications. 

Te Mahi Ako kaimahi Ngāwai Johnston said that "It was beautiful. It was uplifting. It was grounding. The sense of connection there’s nothing like it. The connections, the whanaungatanga, and the wāhi haumaru meant even those who felt vulnerable were able to share their whakaaro." Tracey Hickman also of Te Mahi ako stated that "The wānanga was absolutely brilliant having everyone come together from all along the East Coast to talk about tikanga, how it matters as a swim teacher, and how to embed that into their own communities was awesome." 

As the backbone organisation for Taurikura, Healthy Families East Cape continues to advocate for systems that reflect the realities, hopes, and identities of our hāpori. This kaupapa proves that when we back the leadership already within our communities, we unlock not just solutions but transformation. 

For more information on this kaupapa contact our Pou Whakawai George Kingi via george@healthyfamilieseastcape.co.nz