19 Jun 2019

'This is a resurgence in our ocean culture' - Ngāti Porou surfer Peter Boyd

From Morning Report, 8:56 am on 19 June 2019

A long-serving Ngāti Porou surf life saver is reconnecting his people with the ocean to turn around the Gisborne region's high drowning statistics.

Peter Boyd has been a surf life saver since 1984, and started Ngāti Porou Surf Life Saving Club six years ago to cover the remote, and dangerous Ōnepoto beach.

Peter Boyd has been a surf life saver since 1984, and started Ngāti Porou Surf Life Saving Club six years ago to cover the remote, and dangerous Ōnepoto beach.

Peter Boyd has been a surf life saver since 1984, and started Ngāti Porou Surf Life Saving Club six years ago to cover the remote, and dangerous Ōnepoto beach. Photo: Supplied / Surf Lifesaving NZ

He's been recognised by Surf life Saving New Zealand for building a new surf lifesaving club for his isolated East Coast community, founded on kaupapa from Ngāti Porou. He talks to Susie Ferguson.