Nukutere welcome paddlers

It was a sharing of cultures and kindness at Nukutere College last week, as the school welcomed visiting vaka teams.

Teams Horouta from Gisborne and Fraser Coast Outriggers from Australia both spent the morning with the school as part of the Vaka Eiva ‘adopt a school’ programme.

The programme provides an opportunity for paddling athletes and teams to forge links with a school in the Cook Islands, with this year’s programme having a special emphasis on providing resources for Nukutere College and Avatea School.

For team Horouta it is their eighth year of supporting the college, with close ties having formed over the years.

Horouta representative Gordon Aston greeted the school in Te Reo, adding that it was a great pleasure for the team to be there.

“I am Ngati Porou and there is a lot of me here,” said Aston. “It’s not like being a visitor – it’s like coming backwards to come home.”

Horouta presented the college with a gift of koha, much of which was raised by three young members from their whanau, with further resources due to arrive on the island over the weekend.

From one group of young people to another, paddlers from Fraser Coast Outriggers presented the college with a collection of funds that they had put together.

“We heard by email (about the arson) so we thought we’d rally round,” said team member Chrissy Lemesurier, with the Fraser Coast team made up of 37 paddlers competing in the youth and masters teams.

Nukutere College in return gifted both teams large baskets filled with fruit and nu, to keep the athletes in top form over the coming week’s races.

“We remember what that looked like,” said Aston, referring to the block of classrooms that was destroyed in the fire, adding that they look forward to seeing what the school will look like next year.

“What has given us such strength is support from those such as vaka teams,” said principal George Rasmussen, adding that the support has been overwhelming.”We are coming right.”

Rasmussen said that the rebuilding committee has been working hard and that the school is expecting the rebuild to begin in December.

The morning continued in a celebration of kaikai, dancing and stilt walking, with students and paddlers having the opportunity to celebrate with one another.

“Part of Cook Islands hospitality is that we take care of you,” said Rasmussen.