Angling to teach tamariki
Give a child a fish and feed them for a day. Teach a child to fish and they will have fish everyday.
That is the motto for the upcoming Tuwharetoa Fishing Competition which aims to not only see who the best angler is, but also to pass on skills to the next generation.
‘‘Teams have to be made up from a child with an adult,’’ event organiser Ngahere Wall said.
‘‘The idea is to pass on knowledge of the river and fishing to tamariki.’’
Wall said younger generations are not as connected to the river. Events like this help teach youth how to connect with the fishery.
‘‘We want to encourage people to be active participants with the river,’’ he said.
‘‘Then they will have that food source forever.’’
As well as the usual prizes for biggest fish, the competition will have other categories like kaumatua’s pick.
‘‘If you want to enter that category you basically give up your fish to the table,’’ Wall said.
‘‘The kaumatua decide which one they would most like to eat and pick a winner.’’
The competition runs from September 30 - October 2 and is open to all descendants of Tuwharetoa.
The event will be based at the Waitahanui community hall. For more information head to tuwharetoa.co.nz.