Key Takeaways:
- Jim Edwards has been working with people with challenges, youth at risk, and the Department of Corrections since 1989.
- He established a trust to help his students set up individual goals and find ways of achieving them.
- Edwards spent over $150,000 of his own money to keep the programme going and has won several awards for his work.
- He built a large war waka, or waka taua, as part of the therapy he provided, as well as education and tourism ventures.
- The waka, Ngā Tukemata-o-Kahungunu, was completed in 1996 and has been used to benefit individuals from all cultures and walks of life.
- Due to various challenges, including funding issues and the Covid pandemic, the waka is currently not in use, but Edwards hopes to get it back on the water one last time before he retires.
Introduction to Jim Edwards’ Work
Jim Edwards has been dedicating his life to helping people with challenges, youth at risk, and the Department of Corrections since 1989. While working at Tomoana freezing works, Edwards started working with these groups and soon realized that he could make a programme out of his social work. By the time the freezing works closed in 1994, Edwards knew that he could make a difference in his community. He established a trust to help his students set up individual goals and find ways of achieving them. Through his tireless work, Edwards has helped countless individuals and has won several awards, including Hastings District Council civic honours for voluntary community service and a Pride of NZ Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Waka Taua Project
One of Edwards’ most notable projects is the building of a large war waka, or waka taua, which was completed in 1996. The waka, named Ngā Tukemata-o-Kahungunu, is 20m long and weighs around six tonnes. It was built as part of the therapy Edwards provided, as well as for education and tourism ventures. The waka was designed to benefit individuals from all cultures and walks of life, and it has been used to take visitors and community groups on tours down the Te Awa o Mokotūāraro river. Edwards and his wife, Marie, survived on $125 a week for over a decade while he volunteered his time to build the waka and establish the trust.
Challenges and Setbacks
Despite the success of the waka and the trust, Edwards has faced several challenges and setbacks over the years. In 2019, mud and grass clogging the Te Awa o Mokotūāraro river forced Edwards to look for alternative locations to take the waka. However, this plan was put on hold when the Covid pandemic hit in 2020, temporarily stopping cruise ships and tourists from visiting Hawke’s Bay. The situation was further complicated when Cyclone Gabrielle hit Edwards’ Whakatū home with floodwaters, causing significant damage. In April, Edwards was diagnosed with stage four prostate cancer, and he is now working to get the waka back on the water one last time before he retires.
The Future of the Waka and the Trust
Edwards is hopeful that he will still be around when the Te Awa o Mokotūāraro river is dredged, which is currently scheduled to happen during the development of the 2027-2037 Long-Term Plan. He hopes to have one final paddle with his beloved waka and pass on the torch to his daughter, Jodi, who is set to take over the trust and carry on her father’s work. The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (HBRC) has included dredging work in their Long-Term Plan, with an estimated cost of $3.4 million. However, the funding for the project is still uncertain, and the council will need to reconsider the allocation of funds during the next Long-Term Plan.
Conclusion and Legacy
Jim Edwards’ work with people with challenges, youth at risk, and the Department of Corrections has made a significant impact on his community. His dedication to his work and his passion for helping others have earned him numerous awards and recognition. The waka taua, Ngā Tukemata-o-Kahungunu, is a testament to Edwards’ vision and perseverance, and it will continue to be a symbol of his legacy. As Edwards looks to the future, he is hopeful that his daughter will carry on his work and that the waka will continue to benefit individuals from all cultures and walks of life. Despite the challenges and setbacks, Edwards’ story is one of inspiration and dedication, and his legacy will continue to inspire others to make a difference in their communities.
