For immediate release 8 November 2013

Rafting fever heats up in Kawerau

The 2013 World Rafting Champs are now just around the corner – international teams are already arriving to start training, Kawerau’s rafting festival is growing, and junior school students from across the town are meeting their adopted teams and preparing their displays.

On Wednesday 13 November, international teams will be officially welcomed to Kawerau by young people and dignitaries at Tarawera High School. There will also be a short walk down to the Waterhouse reserve where a karakia will formally welcome competitors before the first training days open.

Eventfinda Global Water House – movies and  prizes

Sitting alongside the competitive events, Kawerau’s Eventfinda Global Water House is filled with activities and events for competitors, locals and visitors during the competitions.

A mega inflatable city provided by Funworks, will be set up in the reserve with some structures more than 15 metres long. Kawerau District Council’s organiser for the event, Lee Barton, noted how some lucky locals may win passes for the attraction.

“Local Eastern Bay of Plenty radio stations will be holding giveaway competitions in the coming weeks for lucky locals to win wrist-band passes. The city is an amazing attraction and will be incredible fun for kids of all ages,” he said.

A giant LED movie screen, available thanks to generous funding from the Eastern Bay Energy Trust, will be used to play live footage from all the race day rafting action in Kawerau from 13 to 24 November.

The screen will also be used for a community movie night (weather permitting) on 22 November. Two movies will be screened back to back and Kawerau schools have voted for ‘Up’ whilst the community voted for the kiwi classic ‘Footrot Flats’.  The evening will be a gold coin donation with all proceeds going to the Dream Chaser Foundation. 

The Global Water House Festival will also feature food, stalls, activities, music, and the Adopt a Nation dome, displaying work from Kawerau junior school students.  The festival culminates on Saturday 23 November with the Open/Masters Slalom racing being the showcase day of racing.

Adopt a Nation – Human Rights Commissioner acknowledgement

The relationships initiated through the Adopt a Nation programme have also started to grow as more teams arrive in town and are keen to meet the students they have previously only spoken to via email and video.

Rafting teams from Brazil and Netherlands have already visited their ‘adopted’ schools and had fantastic opportunities to meet the students and talk about their training, rafting and the commitment it has taken to get to the world champs.

The students have fully engaged in the programme developed by the Youth Council. They have learnt a huge amount about their adopted countries – from geography and language, all the way to making Belgium waffles in food technology.

Pūtauaki School principal, Noel Moore, was pleased with the level of engagement from students and the excitement it has built in the school.

“It was fantastic to have the Brazil U23 team take the time out of their busy training schedule to come into the school and meet the students. It has made a big difference to the classes and adds a strong sense of realism to everything the students have been studying. Some of the teachers have even been on raft trips down the Tarawera with the Brazilians,” he said.

Student work from all four Kawerau schools (Tarawera High School, South School, Pūtauaki School, and Te Whata Tau o Pūtauaki ), will be displayed in the Adopt a Nation dome at The Global Water House Festival.

The project has also been recognised with a certificate of acknowledgement by Dame Susan Devoy (NZ Human Rights Commissioner) who commented:

“Good on the Kawerau Youth Council for this great initiative. It brings the wider world to the young people of Kawerau and a little bit of Kawerau is offered in return.”

Find out more and follow the progress of the students and schools on the Kawerau Adopt a Nation Facebook page: www.facebook.com/adoptanation.

ENDS

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