Sailing Towards Leadership: A Visit to Te Tai o Awatea's Waka Taurua Programme

9 June, 2026

In April, CEO Chelsea Routhan joined Te Tai o Awatea out on the water for one of their Waka Taurua sailings and what she witnessed was quietly extraordinary. Young people, predominantly Māori and Pasifika, working together with focus, pride, and a real sense of purpose.

Through the GSG Wilson Fund, the Top of the South Community Foundation awarded $9,600 to support Te Kura Waka Taurua, a year-long programme bringing up to 20 rangatahi together through the mātauranga of traditional waka sailing.

Alongside regular sailings, the programme includes four weekend wānanga, giving rangatahi meaningful opportunities to grow their leadership skills, strengthen their hauora, and connect with their cultural heritage in a deeply practical way.

Seeing this programme in action is a reminder of what community investment can look like when it is done well, grounded in culture, led with care, and built around young people.

We are grateful to the generous donors who make grants like this possible.

Find out more at tetaioawatea.org.nz

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