Acknowledging the Heart & Impact of Jason Ryder

Jason Ryder, one of our long-standing kaimahi, has dedicated nearly 30 years to supporting tamariki and rangatahi in Porirua through AoD education and harm reduction. He leads Waitech, a 10-week kaupapa that uses waka ama as a vehicle to weave together tikanga, Mauriora, and AoD awareness, strengthening wellbeing and empowering rangatahi to make healthy choices.

Recently, Jason was recognised at the '2025 Cutting Edge Conference' with a national award for Excellence in Addiction Practice for his work with rangatahi, a well-deserved acknowledgement of his decades of dedication.

Guided by the values of pono, tika, and aroha, Jason is a familiar face across our communities, introducing many to waka ama through the programme and his active involvement in the waka community.

Kia ora mō tēnā Jason