Tupuria's whanau are well recognised waka paddlers so it was a given that he would end up in the same position. What he has done with this though is where the magic is, utilising his skill, knowledge and achievement to give back to local communities (especially to rangatahi) by showing them how waka can help them achieve greatness, purpose and potential.
For Tupuria, waka is more than a sport, it's a connection back to our roots as sea voyagers. While it sounds simple in it's form the power this has to connect kids with the past is gold. Take the time to listen to our brother from Te Tai Tokerau making change via waka ama!