Horouta bears gifts from Gisborne

Paddlers from Horouta Waka Ama in Gisborne, New Zealand will, arrive for the Vaka Eiva festival laden with equipment for a local school.

Vaka Eiva has been referred to as the most fun event on the paddling planet, attracting 900 international paddlers for the week-long festival, said Horouta manager Raewyn Chaffey.

This year festival organisers have initiated the idea for visiting teams to adopt one of the island schools.

Horouta has been matched with Nukutere College the only Catholic school on the island, with a roll of 170-200 pupils and a staff of 13.

The school has sent over a wish list and the team cast their nets across the community to gather as many of the items the school had on their wish list.

The club has thrown our net out far and wide and are in awe at the response of donated goods we have received from individuals as well as local businesses Te Whare Whae Hua, Stone Studio, Tumu, Biz4U, Te Ora Hou and Carters.

Thanks go to Air New Zealand Holidays for the outstanding service and special allowances made for the paddlers to carry extra luggage to attend this event.

Besides enjoying the camaraderie of meeting so many paddlers, the event is an opportunity for cultural exchange and raising money for local charities.

Our paddlers have trained hard and are well prepared.