On The Up: Bay Boardriders donate surfing gear to Matakana Island School

McCoy said he would turn up to the weekly sessions on his jetski, and the students would meet him on the beach with boards and wetsuits the South Pacific Surf crew had brought over.

As time passed, he noticed a growing interest and attendance from the children, who returned every week.

“Now, with the help of the Bay Boardriders giving all this amazing surf equipment to the local iwi, I hope the seed we planted four years ago grows, and it starts bleeding down into the younger generations for many years to come.”

South Pacific Surf owner-operator Travis McCoy during one of his surf lessons on Matakana Island.

The Bay Boardriders headed out to Matakana Island on Wednesday to deliver the gear.

Club member James Jacob said the island had a world-class surf break, but there were few Matakana surfers, so the club wanted to enable more kids and parents to try the sport.

“At the moment, a lot of them don’t have surfboards or wetsuits.”

The Bay Boardriders collected 36 surfboards and more than 120 wetsuits for Matakana Island School. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

Once the islanders had the right gear, they could get out on the water wherever they liked without relying on one-off surf lessons.

The Bay Boardriders collected kids’ boards, shortboards and mini Malibu boards, along with wetsuits and vests in all sizes, from juniors to adults.

The team would organise some lessons in the new year at Matakana to teach kids, parents and teachers how to surf and how to identify good conditions.

Ripeka Murray, principal of Te Kura o te Moutere o Matakana, Matakana Island School, said surf gear had been on her wish list, given McCoy’s regular lessons.

Matakana kaumātua, Bay Boardriders and Te Kura o Te Moutere o Matakana school representatives: Te Kehu Kehu Butler (left), Emoana Consedine, Te Aoreke Murray, Maraeatia Gardiner Toi Murray, Ihaia Murray, Phil Joseph, James Jacobs, Ripeka Murray, Hori Murray and Nuku Williams (holding surfboards), Dean Wearne and Cale Tolley, Te Taiwhenua Murray, Travis McCoy, Levi Henry, Te Kaweroa Murray. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

“We recognise how strongly our tamariki connect to the moana that surrounds our moutere [island], yet how limited their access is to the proper equipment,” she said.

“Because we are a small, isolated kura, the tamariki rarely have access to quality boards, wetsuits or safe instruction.”

For many whānau, surfing equipment was too expensive, and transport to places like Mount Maunganui for lessons or gear was another barrier.

The donated boards will be a shared resource for the school. Photo / Ayla Yeoman

“Even though the moana is right at our doorstep, the lack of proper equipment limits our ability to safely and consistently introduce surfing to all students.”

The donations would remove the financial and accessibility barriers, making surfing a realistic and safe opportunity for all ākonga (students), not just those with the means, she said.

With shared equipment available at the school, students could participate regularly, learn water safety and build skills over time.

Many of the students had already spent a lot of time in the water gathering kaimoana or swimming.

Murray said they saw surfing as a natural extension of their relationship with Tangaroa, the Māori god of the ocean.

Ayla Yeoman is a journalist based in Tauranga. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in communications and politics & international relations from the University of Auckland, and has been a journalist since 2022.