Hiwi the Kiwi goes fishing

Joshua's first fish - a special memory

Hiwi the Kiwi

Joshua Gill proudly displays the new TiCA rod and reel he received for his good work in the Hiwi the Kiwi Goes Fishing programme, which visited his school last month.

Relevant offers

Fishing

The taming of 'Troutzilla' Blokes & their Boats - February 2012 The ITM Fishing Show - February 2012 'Ten marlin in one day' reunion Guide to Auckland boat ramps February Issue on Sale Now January issue on sale now Blokes & Their Boats - December 2011 The ITM Fishing Show Blokes & their Boats - November 2011

Joshua’s first fish – a special memory

The Hiwi the Kiwi Goes Fishing programme is not just a eighty-minute show where The Minstrel entertains the children.

While Mark de Lacy’s visits to the school are highlights of the programme, they are only one part of a classroom learning unit developed by Northland educationalist Marilyn Small.
Coming from a keen fishing family herself, and currently the assistant principal at the Mount Manaia Primary school near Whangarei, Marilyn quickly saw the benefits such a programme might offer students, so offered to produce the teachers’ resource material.

The best work from each school is forwarded onto Mark and Marilyn, and after taking into account the age range, they select a suitable piece for publication on the Hiwi the Kiwi Goes Fishing pages. Good efforts at each school are further rewarded with the presentation of a new TiCA rod and reel set, courtesy of major sponsors Kilwell Sports. (That’s some 90 sets that will be in the hands of young anglers when The Minstrel completes his wanderings this year.)

Part of the Hiwi the Kiwi in-schools programme involves giving the young students an opportunity to write about fishing; each month The Minstrel, with the help of the various teachers, will select a piece of writing or related artwork for publication in the magazine’s Hiwi the Kiwi Goes Fishing page.

The first winner, and the recipient of a brand new TiCA rod and reel, courtesy of sponsors Kilwell Sports, is Joshua Gill, a year-five student at Palmerston North’s Milson School.

The following is Joshua’s story on his first fishing experience during a family Christmas holiday to Lake Rotorua:

Once I was with my family on holiday. We had planned to go on Tony’s boat with him. It was going to be a great holiday and we stayed for about two nights at Tony’s house.
Mum, Dad and Tony loaded all the stuff – including me and Jess – onto the boat. We were in Rotorua to spend Christmas with friends. It was Jess’s first time on a boat and I knew Jess would love it just from knowing how much I loved it. It was bumpy. Tony parked the boat and pulled out some fishing lines. I had seen the weird stick thingies before, but I didn’t take much notice until Dad put one in my hand and said, “Give it a go.” I didn’t know what to say.
I held the fishing line out in the hope that I caught a fish. Minutes passed by. Tick, tock, tick…
“Dad Dad,” I yelled at the top of my voice. I pulled the line in, but tugged too hard and the fish got away.
“Oh well, there’s always next time,” I said.
Dad cast the line out for me and I tried again. Tick, tock, tick – time went by. We hadn’t caught a fish yet.
Tony said we should give up and go home but, “No, we can’t go home until I catch a fish!” I yelled, and just as well, because I got a bite.
I pulled the line slower this time. No one could look, and all was quiet until…
“Dad! Everyone! Look!” I felt like I was a fishing champion. I let Jess catch the fish dangling from the line with the net. Dad gave her some help, but only a little bit.
Those two days were some of the best ever, and I will never forget them. Jess probably had a great time too, being able to put the fish into the net.
I am always ready for a fishing adventure.
Joshua Gill
Year 5, Milson School, Palmerston North

Mark de Lacy, AKA The Minstrel, is spreading the ‘Fishing for the Future’ word to primary-school students via his ‘Hiwi the Kiwi Goes Fishing’ programme.

Meet the Minstrel
He will be at the following schools over the
next month:
August 24, Wilford, Lower Hutt; August 25, Rawhai, Stokes Valley and Wainuiomata; August 27, Trentham, Upper Hutt; August 28, Martinborough and Masterton Primary.

September 1, Wanganui East; September 3, Westmere and Durie Hill, Wanganui; September 7, Waverley and Mangorei, New Plymouth; September 14, Malfroy and St. Mary’s, Rotorua; September 15, Westbrook and Western Heights, Rotorua; September 17, Hilltop and Taupo Primary, Taupo; September 18, Mountview and Wairaki, Taupo; September 21, Gisborne central and Kaiti, Gisborne; September 22, Te Hapara, Gisborne; September 24, Putauaki, Kawerau and Otakiri, Whakatane; and September 25, Apanui, Whakatane.

- © Fairfax NZ News