Melville Intermediate - Thank You Matua Tutu

There are many events that students were involved in during term one. Destyn, Raukawa, Liam and Cleveland from Room 8 this term were lucky enough to be involved in Waka Ama racing. This came about because Matua Tutu volunteered his time to help with the boys, to train them and prepare them for the event. If he had not the students would not have had the fantastic opportunity to participate. On the final day of term one, 2009, the School had our usual End of Term Assembly. At that assembly the Boys made a presentation to Matua of a signed photograph of the entire Waka Ama School team. They also read out a letter to him thanking him for his time and support. The letter read as follows:

"Dear Matua Tutu

Thank you for all your time that you spent teaching us how to row in a waka. Mauta you have taught us how to behave in the Waka. We are lucky to have you as our Matua. Without you we wouldn't have even be there. All us enjoyed of Waka Ama training even when we all had sore arms and legs. We all hope that you will come back and teach us next year."

I (Mr Webb) would like to add that without the support of volunteers who give their time so generously a lot of activities that are provided at schools would not be possible - its thanks to people like Matua Tutu that we can offer students the full range of experiences, and I know the students were very greatful for that opportunity.

Melville Intermediate - Waka Ama Commands

The following commands are the commands called by the leader of the Melville Intermediate Wakak Ama crew in their competition at Ngaruwhaia.

Kia mau - Wait
Karite - Get Ready
Hoe - Go Fast
Pawa - Stop
Hoe ko mure - Go Back
Tokehi - Paddle and rest

Melville Intermediate - Waka Ama 3

Melville Intermediate - Waka Ama 2

Melville Intermediate - Destyn's Waka Ama Recount

On Monday we had to go to Waka Ama training at Ngarawhaia River. I was the first kid to get there and then I had to wait for Matua Tutu to arrive. Then he arrived and he was talking to us and we got ready to start. We had to walk to there. Matua showed us where we'd be in the Waikato River. We had to put on our lifejackets and grab our paddles. We got our sticks and got into two lines. Being in the Waka is really sore for your arms, and your legs too! When we go up the river it takes us ages to get up there. Matua tells us to get ready to go down the river and if we don't get our timing right our Waka gets wobbly. When you look at the river in the Waka it looks like its moving really fast. When we get off the river our legs are really sore, sore so bad that we can't feel them! We lift up the Waka. It's so heavy when we go to lift it and put it away! We put the paddles in Matua's car and the lifejackets in the bag too. Sometimes we go swimming with my friends and then we go home.