This is my first report as President of Hoe Tonga and I am pleased to report that during 2009/10 Hoe Tonga has seen progress and a number of achievements.

Races

The quality of race organisation has continually improved over the last few years. Notably, in 2009/2010 Hoe Tonga races for the first time utilised computer technology used at the Waka Ama Nationals to run key races. Hoe Tonga has also invested in some key resources such as radios to run races more effectively. Of course there is still significant room for improvement and Hoe Tonga, with the help of paddlers and supporters, will need to work on those during 2010/11.

The number of regular races has also increased. The region now sees three regional events and championships organised by Hoe Tonga (W1, W6 and secondary schools), in addition to two regular series (with 6 six races each) organised by individuals, and at least one regular club event. This means that paddlers can now get on the water and compete at least once a month in the Hoe Tonga region. While the region is still lacking a major event in the summer months that draws in the top teams from the North, without more volunteers this situation is unlikely to change in the short term.

Many of you will have noticed higher registration fees at the regional W1 and W6 Sprints. Some view them as unfair but it is important to keep in mind that races are run on a cost recovery basis and fees are kept as low as possible. Junior paddlers continue to get subsidised through lower fees. Without race fees it is not possible to provide paddlers with the well-run events they deserve; and feedback from paddlers through various surveys suggest that paddlers would like the quality of races to improve further.

Strategic plan

Hoe Tonga was the first region in New Zealand to embark on the process to develop a strategic plan so as to be clear where we want to go and how we are planning to get there. Its key objective is the growth and development of Waka Ama in the region. The strategic plan was adopted at the last AGM in 2009 and during 2009/10 we commenced its implementation.

As planned we have revised the constitution and improved the website (now updated at least weekly) to improve information provision. Hoe Tonga has also invested in better resources to improve the running of races.

Having said that, much work remains to be done and progress is relatively slow. For instance, work in the future will need to focus on key challenges such as

• enabling investment into equipment and volunteers (through increasing the financial resources available to Hoe Tonga), and
• better coordination of Waka Ama in secondary schools in the region.

As with many things, many hands make little work and I invite paddlers and supporters to assist in any way they can.

Finances

Hoe Tonga’s finances are in healthy state. However, Hoe Tonga’s income is still very limited (i.e. affiliation and race fees). Unfortunately there is no income yet from important funding sources such as sponsors or community funding organisations. This in turn limits our ability to fulfil our aspirations.

During next year and the years ahead it will be important to broaden the funding base. This in turn will enable us to consider investments in a number of areas, including administration support, support of high performance paddlers, regional development and coaching programmes and better equipment.

Many challenges remain but I am confident that together we can overcome them. I am looking forward to the next year.

Joern Scherzer
President
Hoe Tonga Pacifica Waka Ama Association

ENDS

Hoe Tonga held its annual general meeting on 6 September.

At the meeting, Hoe Tonga adopted a revised constitution and the executive presented its annual reports.

At the meeting the election of executive officers also took place. The executive for 2010/11 is as follows:

• President: Jörn Scherzer
• Vice-President: Chris Fox
• Secretary: Mere Elkington
• Treasurer: Len Tamapeau
• NKOA representative: Marinna Millanta-Lowrey

Congratulations to the executive officers.

Many many thanks to outgoing officers Samantha Tamanui and Averalle Paenga for their hard work and commitment during their tenure. Both had served on the executive for a number of years.

ENDS

The SPARC Volunteer Coach Awards 2010 are an important opportunity to thank all the hard-working coaches making a huge difference to Waka Ama paddlers and supporters.

Nominations close 8 September. More information under www.sparc.org.nz/volunteers.

Why not take the opportunity to nominate your coach?

ENDS

Below you can find a brief summary of the results for the recent survey of Hoe Tonga paddlers and members regarding Hoe Tonga’s performance.

27 people responded to the survey; providing a useful insight into the thinking of Hoe Tonga’s key stakeholders, i.e. paddlers and supporters.

Re question 4, i.e. whether Hoe Tonga’s delivery and performance of waka ama related activities demonstrate our values, the picture is mixed and there is clearly room for improvement for Hoe Tonga.

Re question 5, i.e. the performance of Hoe Tonga in terms of three key areas, work in terms of information provision and race organisation appears to be relatively good, but there is clearly room for improvement in terms of growing and developing waka ama in the region.

Note that by focusing on implementing the initiatives as set out in Hoe Tonga’s strategic plan 09-14 it should be possible to improve on the above results.

Note that the survey also collected information on potential volunteers; this information will be used in the future to approach people to see whether they may be interested in relevant work (where applicable).

You can access a copy of the results here by clicking here.

ENDS

Notice is hereby given that the Hoe Tonga AGM be held on 6 September.

• Where: Porirua Police College (go to reception)
• When: 6.30pm

Note that any member of an affiliated  member club can attend the AGM but each club only has one vote via their club representative.

At the meeting, Hoe Tonga is intending to adopt a revised constitution, following a two phase public consultation process over the last three months. Click here to download the draft final revised constitution.

The AGM agenda will be as follows:

• Motions affecting the rules of the Association (revised constitution)
• the receiving of the president’s report
• the receiving of the treasurer’s report for the previous financial year
• election of Executive Officers
• Membership fees
• Membership

If you know of someone who would like to stand for office, or if you would like to nominate someone for any of the executive officer positions, please send this information to htpwaa@gmail.com.

ENDS

…get free, practical advice on funding opportunities

Learn how to make the most of funding opportunities for your organisation at a free event offering practical advice on how to seek and make the most of funding opportunities. Whether you are trying to raise $500 or $500,000, whether it be for sport, arts, health, youth development, education or social services, the Fit for Funding half-day forum will be useful for your organisation.

The forum starts with guest speakers, funding specialists who will speak about the fund application process, sharing their knowledge and experiences. After morning tea, discussion time is available for those attending to meet face to face with funding agencies, network with the local NGO sector and opt into other workshops.

Fit for Funding

Time: 9am – 12.30pm (morning tea included)

Date: Wednesday 4 August

Place: Renouf Foyer, Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington

Representatives from major funding organisations will also be available for advice –- including Lotteries, the New Zealand Community Trust,Pub Charity, NZCT,  the Lion Foundation, Creative New Zealand, the Charities Commission and the Department of Internal Affairs.

Register to book a place

• email your contact details to Shirley Travis (shirley.travis@wcc.govt.nz)

• call Shirley direct on 499 4444, Monday to Wednesday.

Registrations will be confirmed by email. Please book early as places are limited.

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Well, so do we…

But hey, while you are looking at this, please take a moment to complete our paddler questionnaire by following the below survey link.

As part of our commitment to our paddlers in the region, Hoe Tonga wishes to survey paddlers, volunteers and members on a regular basis.

What you think is important and the information you provide will help us improve the services we offer to you.

The survey will remain open until 11 July.

Click here to take the survey (now closed).

Thank you for your participation.

ENDS

Tunui a te Ika and Hikoikoi are jointly hosting a waka ama technique clinic as part of a strategy to support our members and paddlers within the Wellington region to excel in the sport of Waka Ama. Depending on interest further clinics may be held.

These workshops are free to Tunui and Hikoikoi members; a small fee applies to non-members ($10 includes sausage sizzle). All welcome.

The clinic will be held on Sunday 27 June at Hikoikoi, Petone from 9.30am ending at 3pm. Cancellation will be by text, please provide your contact number on the attached registration form.

The day will include land and water training including:

• Video analysis of paddling technique
• Mechanics of stroke
• Dynamics of Team
• OC1 and OC6 paddling
• Boat run
• Training percentages 50/70/80/100
• Question time

No reira e te whānau waka ama, register your interest now by completing the registration form and sending to Niks Grace (Tunui Secretary) nicola.grace@vuw.ac.nz or 0276946362. All enquires can be directed to Niks also.

The coaches that will be running the workshops are Graham Finch and Lyall Reedy.

This is a great opportunity for coaching and networking with paddlers in the Wellington region, not to mention a fun day out on the water!

ENDS

go to www.wakaama.co.nz to check out the consolidated document, a major clean up was done and there have been quite a few changes…

Please click here for the revised draft constitution.

The document contains ‘tracked changes’, please enable those in your MS Word version when reading the document:  deletions are indicated by crossed-out text, proposed additions/changes are indicated by underlined text.  Comments within the document explain relevant changes.

Please provide any feedback by 15 June either directly to the sub-committee: Joern and Averalle at joern.scherzer@gmail.com or ave.paenga@gmail.com; or to your Hoe Tonga club representative.

Note that while you will find quite a number of changes to the text, they do not actually affect the governance/management structure of Hoe Tonga – as agreed by the Hoe Tonga committee the focus of this review is to look at improving the effectiveness of the committee (e.g. changes to the financial year). The changes are mainly intended to improve the structure of the document itself and to improve the usability of the document.

Background: Our strategic plan was adopted in late 2009 and a key initiative is a review of the constitution.  As a result, the Hoe Tonga constitution is currently being reviewed.

Intended time frame for the review (tentative):

by mid June: consultation ends

By mid-to-end-of-June: revised draft made to be made available, invitation for further feedback to club representatives

early July: Hoe Tonga Committee to sign off on final proposals, extraordinary meeting to be scheduled to formally adopt the revised constitution

August: extraordinary general meeting, new constitution adopted

ENDS