Ako Wai

15/07/2026

Thumbs up for Term 3 lessons starting next week!👍 Massive shout out to Michaela and Jackie at Hāwera Aquatic Centre who we met with today to sort some assessments and get another family started. Mattie and Amy from Sport Taranaki came along to check out the programme. We are very thankful for the funding received from Sport Taranaki and the Tu Manawa fund, helping us continue to offer this service around the maunga.

05/07/2026

It is with the support of our amazing sponsors that we can provide the service that we do. A HUGE thank you to CMK Chartered Accountants for their support of Ako Wai. They have been with us on our journey for the last 7 years as we have grown as a charity. We are grateful to have the support and guidence as as we strive to help tamariki around the maunga learn to swim.

25/06/2026

After the freezing cold and wet winter, summer will come. Our Ako Wai swimmers will. be ready for fun at the rivers and beach after spending the winter honing water safety skills and learning to swim at their local pool. If you would like the opportunity to join our funded after-school swim programme around Taranaki, fill out the form for more info. This is for whanau who would love their tamariki to participate in funded swim lessons and may not have the financial means to do so.

Get in TouchIf you would like to enquire or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out using the contact form. You can also reach us by email or phone from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. [email protected] 283 1733  

05/04/2026

Thank you Contact Energy, it's with the help of companies like you that we can continue to provide funded swim programmes.

If you are keen to know more about being a sponsor or donor of Ako Wai, please visit:
https://www.akowai.co.nz/sponsors-donors

14/03/2026

🌊 End of Summer – Celebrating Our Ako Wai Swimmers! 🌊

As summer comes to a close, we want to say a huge congratulations to the 20 participants who have just completed a full year of swimming lessons through the Ako Wai Programme!

These swimmers have come from communities all around Taranaki, and it has been fantastic to see their confidence and water skills grow over the past year. Next term we are excited to welcome new participants into the programme, who will be learning alongside our current swimmers as they continue building their skills in the water.

A big thank you to our amazing local lesson providers who make this programme possible:
Todd Energy Aquatic Centre

Wai o Rua - Stratford Aquatic Centre

Hāwera Aquatic Centre

We’re looking forward to another great term of swimming! 🌊

If you’re interested in supporting this community initiative through sponsorship or getting involved, we’d love to hear from you.
Please contact Aimee at:
[email protected]

07/03/2026

We want to say a HUGE thank you to our sponsor, Taranaki Electricity Trust (TET)!

The funding we receive from TET helps cover the cost of getting local tamariki into Ako Wai, giving them the opportunity to learn to swim and stay safe in the water. We believe that every child should have the chance to learn this essential life skill, regardless of their financial situation.

Thanks to the generous contributions, many tamariki in our community are able to make this a reality. We are truly grateful for the partnership and look forward to continuing to work together to make a positive impact in the lives of children.

Learn more about TET: https://www.taranakielectricitytrust.co.nz/

Interested in sponsoring or donating to Ako Wai? https://www.akowai.co.nz/sponsors-donors