Taking on the Challenge of White Water Rafting

Instructor Tom Savage addresses the students.

Instructor Tom Savage.

Team number one launch their raft.

The students tackle the whitewater section of the park for the first time.

By keeping her feet up and allowing the current to carry her down the river and eventually flush her out to the side, this student shows good technique.

On the side of the river, the students regroup before getting back into their raft.

In April a new white water rafting park in South Auckland opened its gates to the public.

With a huge man-made lake and two different rivers courses on offer, the Vector Wero White Water Park is a $37 million dollar facility that caters to both the enthusiastic amateur and the established pro.

But it also offers a sponsored programme for students from low decile schools to introduce them water safety and challenges them to build confidence and develop leadership skills.

Olympic canoeing legend Ian Ferguson manages the centre and he tells Justin Gregory that the sponsored program is at the very centre of their plans.