Tikanga, waka ama taught at EIT
In July, EIT introduced Te
Po¯ kaitahi Tikanga (Kaupae 3) — NZ Certificate in Tikanga (Level 3). Students can choose between two specialist subjects — ma¯ tauranga Ma¯ ori or the sport of waka ama.
Myka Nuku is one of the waka ama tutors. Myka holds a Master of Ma¯ ori studies, and is also a renowned waka ama athlete. He has represented New Zealand for the last 17 years in international Open Men and now Masters Men competitions and recently came second at the Masters World Championships. He is coaching the New Zealand Elite Open men’s team and won this year’s Hawke’s Bay Sports Award — Masters Athlete of the Year — for the second time.
Myka didn’t start paddling until he was in his mid-20s. He was working in Wellington as a builder when a friend encouraged him to go out on a traditional outrigger canoe.
“I was hooked immediately — that sudden peace in the middle of a busy city was absolutely fascinating,” Myka says.
“For me waka ama just opened a door to te ao Ma¯ ori, my Ma¯ ori culture. I built a connection with my heritage by soaking up the knowledge which was passed down from my ancestors.”
Myka, who also teaches te reo Ma¯ ori at Napier Girls High School, says that te reo Ma¯ ori will naturally be integrated throughout both the ma¯ tauranga Ma¯ ori and the waka ama curriculum of the new certificate.
“We say a karakia before going on the waka, the students learn the Ma¯ ori names for all the parts of the canoe and we use basic phrases like hoea (let’s go), kia rite (get ready) or kia tere (go faster).”
The course covers water safety issues, and Myka will show his students how to read the water, waves and weather. Students don’t need to be particularly sporty.
“People just have to be open for a new experience. It’s a very safe sport which is a bonus. Falling into the water is highly unlikely as the ama (outrigger) of the waka improves its stability. Blisters are probably the worst ‘injury’ you can get,” he says.