Page 112 - NHS Beyond the Classroom

Waka Nationals, Rotorua 2009

Reflecting on the Nationals it was an were only one of 64 schools participating in the
amazing experience and we are so glad to have week-long event, the results would should how
been a part of the team of 49 that represented determined we were.
Ngaruawahia High School. A Bronze Medal in the J16 Mixed W12
Up against 64 other schools and we all are Champ final showed how keen we were.
very proud to come home with a silver and a Wednesday was a very hectic day on the
bronze medal. water because Tawhirimatea decided he wanted to
We stayed at Apumoana Marae in Rotorua, teach us a lesson.
only five minutes away from Lake Tikitapu (Blue It was one of the worst conditions you’d ever
Lake) and we are thankful to have had such an wish on your team, especially for heats and
awesome marae to have stayed at. progressions. Matua Waki Simon told us that we
We had our whakatau when we arrived and needed to adapt our way of thinking and gauge the
settled in pretty quickly, setting up beds and turns, especially with the weather being so unkind
virually straight into homework (which our lovely to us - and although it was hard, most teams
teachers made sure they provided for us - gee, coped.
thanks!). Some team got to go to a natural mineral
There were takeaways for tea on the first bath ‘up the road’ which was a good opportunity
night. And talking about food - our meals were for teams to get even more.
WICKED all week! On Tuesday morning ‘Team Thursday morning was beautiful. Although it
Rangimarie” went to the powhiri at the lake while was cold we kept warm with our new uniforms and
the rest of us mentally and physically prepared the jackets Whaea Roa gave us.
ourselves for the W12 races for the day. Our junior teams paddled really well, with
Whaea Rangimarie told us we had ONE three teams making the Championship Finals and
chance to crack a final - and we knew if we the rest making Plate Finals or Semi’s.
wanted a medal we would have to crack it alright! Teams were really happy with their efforts
After the initial ‘mind-blowing’ fact that we on the water on Thursday. However we all knew