Five years ago, Ngāruawāhia High School’s rowing programme started with just five students and a single boat. Today, the programme is preparing for a season with around 30 rowers and a growing reputation for helping young people thrive both on and off the water.

Recently announced as the North Island recipient of the Emerging School Rowing Scholarship, the school will receive $10,000 in funding through Rowing New Zealand, with support from Milford Foundation. The funding will help address some of the practical barriers that come with running a growing programme, including equipment, coaching, travel and regatta costs.

But for those involved, the real value of the programme is measured in much more than participation numbers or race results.

Coach Tamsin Coburn has seen the difference rowing can make in the lives of young people.

“We’ve had a lot of mischievous kids at school, and once they joined us and came down and tried rowing, there’s been a major impact at school with better grades and overall attendance.”

One student who had struggled at school before joining the programme went on to complete an Outward Bound course, an experience that had a significant impact on his confidence and outlook.

“Overall, he just became a much nicer kid,” says Tamsin.

For students, rowing has become a place to challenge themselves, build friendships and discover strengths they didn’t know they had.

“It taught me about myself that I’m way more resilient and way stronger than I thought I was. I can really stick through things and not give up just when it gets hard.”

Another student reflected on the importance of teamwork:

“Everybody needs to work together. Everybody needs to be synchronised, and you need to trust the other teammates.”

These outcomes closely align with Milford Foundation’s focus on supporting young people to thrive. While the scholarship helps remove financial barriers to participation, the broader opportunity lies in giving more young people access to experiences that build confidence, resilience, connection and a sense of possibility.

As Milford Foundation General Manager Lucy Doyle explains:

“At Milford Foundation, we’re focused on helping young people access opportunities that build confidence, resilience and connection. That’s why we’re proud to support initiatives like this. The value of programmes like these isn’t just in the sport itself, but in the skills, relationships and sense of belonging young people develop along the way.”

For Ngāruawāhia High School, the scholarship will help continue the momentum of a programme that is creating opportunities for young people who may not otherwise have access to them.

“It means everything. We started off as just a quad, and expecting 30 kids is a major impact to us. It means we’re growing, and it means our culture at our school is becoming a big part – rowing,” says Tamsin.

Sometimes the most meaningful outcomes aren’t measured in medals. They’re seen in stronger attendance, greater confidence, new friendships and young people discovering what they’re capable of. Those are the opportunities this scholarship helps create.