In Te Tairāwhiti, where the moana meets the hearts of its people, a quiet revolution in swim education is underway. Te Ara Kauhoe is more than a training initiative, it is a reclamation of knowledge, identity, and community leadership. And Te Mahi Ako is proud to be part of it.

From the coast, for the coast

For years, whānau along the East Coast have faced barriers to accessing swim education, relying on instructors from outside the region or going without. Te Ara Kauhoe flips that model. Fourteen tauira from across Te Tairāwhiti came together in August to complete a dual qualification: the NZ Certificate in Aquatics (Swim & Water Safety Teacher) Level 3 and the NZ Certificate in Tikanga Level 2.

Delivered through Te Mahi Ako’s Piki Ake and Kake Ake modules, the training wove together technical skills with te ao Māori, creating a learning environment that was safe, empowering, and deeply connected to whakapapa.

Ngāwai Johnston - Kaitohutohu Hononga ā-Motu: “There’s nothing like it”

Reflecting on the wānanga, Ngāwai Johnston described the experience as transformative:

“It was beautiful. It was uplifting. It was grounding. The sense of connection. There’s nothing like it. The whanaungatanga and wāhi haumaru meant even those who felt vulnerable were able to share their whakaaro.”

Ngāwai’s words speak to the heart of the kaupapa: building capability from within, in ways that honour the lived experiences of our communities.

Tracey Hickman - National partnership lead
Kairuruku: Tautoko Akonga: “Brilliant and embedded in community”

Tracey has been instrumental in shaping the delivery of this kaupapa. Her reflections highlight the power of bringing people together:

“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.”

Tracey’s leadership ensured that the training was not just accessible, but meaningful. Removing financial barriers and embedding cultural relevance at every step.

Maren Frerichs - Chief executive
Te Tumu Whakarae: “We navigate this journey together”

From a systems perspective, Te Ara Kauhoe represents a shift in how vocational education can be delivered. Maren Frerichs, CEO of Skills Active Aotearoa Group, sees this as part of a broader movement:

“We are committed to navigating this journey together and emerging stronger, with a renewed focus on our shared mission at Te Mahi Ako.”

Her words reflect the organisation’s commitment to backing community leadership and unlocking transformation through education that is grounded, inclusive, and empowering.

Te Mahi Ako congratulates Te Ara Kauhoe

Te Mahi Ako extends congratulations to everyone involved in Te Ara Kauhoe - tauira, facilitators, community leaders, and partners. We especially acknowledge the collaborative efforts of Comet Swimming Club, Healthy Families East Cape, Midway Surf Rescue Community Hub, and Kiwa Pools. This kaupapa is a shining example of what happens when we trust in local leadership and invest in culturally grounded education. The ripple effects are already being felt, and we look forward to supporting the next stages of this journey.

A ripple effect already in motion

Tauira shared reflections that show the impact is already being felt:

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

“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.”

This kaupapa proves that when we invest in the leadership already present in our communities, we don’t just deliver qualifications, we deliver transformation.

🔗 Read more about Te Ara Kauhoe on the Healthy Families East Cape website: Healthy Families East Cape – Te Ara Kauhoe