The THINK Hauora Poly Paddles programme is a flagship programme that has been running for the past four years. The two-week water survival swimming programme for 5-11 year old Māori and Pasifika children promotes water activities that focus on improving wellbeing and quality of life through aerobics, balance, flexibility and strength.

The free programme also covers skills such as:

• Submersion - getting under the water
• Personal Buoyancy - staying afloat
• Water Safety & Awareness
• Orientation in the Water
• Propulsion - moving through the water

There are two sessions held at the Lido Aquatic Centre in Palmerston North and the Levin Aquatic Centre in Horowhenua during most school holidays. Last term, a total of 42 children attended the programme all learning vital water safety skills for the future.

Connecting Communities Lead for Pasifika & Rangatahi, Pele Aumua believes that this programme is vital in bridging the gap of inequity amongst Māori and Pasifika tamariki.

“Programmes like Poly Paddles also give our team the opportunity to identify and further develop collaborative opportunities that will support the improvements in health and wellbeing of our Pasifika and Māori communities,” he says.

Feedback from whānau also demonstrated the importance of facilitating these fully funded programmes.

“The programme was awesome. My kids enjoyed it and looked forward to doing it again. They enjoyed this more then normal swimming lessons we've done in the past and had lots of fun. Thank you for providing this as a free service,” says one whānau member.

The recent school holidays was also an opportunity to bring a more holistic approach to tamariki’s wellbeing with Palmerston North City Library attending to register children for the upcoming Summer Reading Programme and clinical dietitians coming in to teach tamariki about making healthy choices.

The programme is funding by the Sport Manawatū Tu Manawa Fund.