Helping local youth have fun and stay active
Hokianga’s famous brumby races might have come to a screeching halt, but there’s no stopping Rob Pink from helping local youth have fun and stay active.
The popular Rawene Brumby Races were canned after seven years because of ’’too much PC coming in’’, says Pink.
The races were run by Hokianga Treks 4 Kids, a 10-year-old club founded by Pink that gives youth in Rawene free lessons and access to horses. The races, held the first Saturday in March, were started to give them something to look forward to.
‘‘We had seven years of real good racing, then it was a number of things that made us decide to pull the pin on it for now,’’ Pink says.
One issue was people riding with no helmets, Pink says.
‘‘This is Hokianga, we do Hokianga brumby racing Hokianga style. Every year we had a few accidents but nothing serious.
‘‘We didn’t have enough helmets to go around and couldn’t police it. We could sort out the children, and make sure they wore them, but you can’t tell adults.’’
The event also attracted about 20 food stalls organised by kohunga, play centres and schools. The last event was March 2016.
Now Pink has started up a water ski club in Rawene, teaching those same kids how to ski, have fun and be safe on the water.
About 25 kids aged 6 to 16 rock up to Pink’s place after school or on Saturday morning depending on the tides and weather.
‘‘Kids galore come down,’’ he says. ’’The bush telegram would go around and they come from everywhere. We’ve got a biscuit and put four kids on it and give them a great ride. They love it. They say ‘you can’t get us off
‘‘We've got a biscuit and put four kids on it and give them a great ride.’’
Rob Pink
Rob’.’’
Pink says he might organise a low key mounted games day next year. But it will be a family day for local horses and riders, he says.
Helping Hokianga kids have fun and stay out of trouble runs in the family for Pink; his parents were both community minded people. His dad started boy scouts, while his mum ran girl guides. Both parents were involved in the water ski club.
‘‘I love seeing kids enjoying stuff while they’re still young, it holds them in good stead for later on.’’