Team NZ's campaign for Maori sailors

Published: 8:13PM Saturday October 17, 2009 Source: ONE Sport

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Team New Zealand is launching a new campaign to break down some of yachting's barriers with the America's Cup team training budding sailors from a local Auckland iwi.

In a pilot scheme between Ngati Whatua Orakei and Team New Zealand, 10 Maori children are learning to sail with many more expected to follow.

The project was created after Ngati Whatua Orakei hosted a party for Team New Zealand at Bastion Point during the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series in January.

The payback for hosting the event was a plan to get Maori children into sailing and dispel some sailing myths.

"It's always been like a typical Pakeha sport I guess. That's how we feel but obviously today this is a new opportunity and something that hopefully the kids will enjoy and get into for the rest of their lives," says Ngati Whatua's Clay Hawke.

Team New Zealand is also aware of the need to build up sailing in the younger generation and this campaign is another step in that direction.

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