The new principal at Moerewa School, Maia Cooper, was approached by a small group of enthusiastic, passionate students who were keen to form a bike group at the school. Whaea Maia, impressed with their idea, asked the students to create a plan in writing and bring it back to her. This resulted in the formation of Moerewa Schools Bike Crew.

Staff member, Whaea Deb, was assigned to work with the boys to make the Bike Crew a reality. They met on Monday and Wednesday afternoons during the last block of school time and planned what they needed to do to make safe bike riding outside of school a reality.

“They were very methodical about what they needed to do. I was impressed that they really thought through about things in such depth, leaving nothing to chance and knowing that safety was of the upmost importance” explains Whaea Deb.

The boys set about checking all of the school bikes and made a list of parts they would need to get them all up to standard. They checked tyre pressure, fixed punctures, replaced tyre tubes, adjusted bike seats, checked brakes and oiled chains.

From there the students created a Bike Licence course and checklist that they tested on each other, graduating as “Bike Officers.” Next they tested each student that wished to participate in the bike riding kaupapa and issued them with bike licences. “This showed that they were confident and capable and understood the safety aspects required when riding a bike outdoors” describes Whaea Deb.

Drafting a list of things that are needed for bike riding was next on the list for the Crew. Top of the list was a permission slip that all participants took home to their parents. Other considerations were bike maintenance (puncture repair kit, bike pump, spare tubes), helmets, appropriate clothing (including footwear), food, water and the consideration of external elements such as the length of the ride and the weather.

Once all this preparation work was completed, the Moerewa School Bike Crew were ready to ride. In term 4 they began bike riding every second Friday. Bikes were loaded securely on to the school trailer and towed by the school van, the Crew set off riding from Opua to Kawakawa and back. The next ride was a journey from Kaikohe riding halfway to Okaihau and back. This ride included eight students and three adults.

Moerewa School has not received any outside assistance for their Bike Crew.  They are very grateful for the mahi of school caretaker, Matua Mike, who drives the school van and regularly bike rides with the crew.

Click here to hear from the crew themselves about their experiences.

As for the future, the goal in 2021 is to continue to get more students through the bike riding Kaupapa and out onto the cycle trail. Safety, of course, being the main focus.