Auckland, 5 February 2025 – The Birkenhead Primary School teaching staff traded their classrooms for the open water at Westhaven Marina, diving into a high-energy team-building session with the Auckland Dragon Boat Association (ADBA).

The teachers took on the challenge with enthusiasm, discovering that dragon boating is not just about paddling, it's about communication, coordination, and trust. “We wanted to get everyone ‘paddling’ in the same direction,” Principal Francis Naera said. “I paddled a few years ago, and it was a fantastic start to the year. I thought it would be great for our staff to kick off the year the same way.”

The morning began with an introduction to ADBA and its seasonal programme, and the safety briefing quickly made it clear that this time, the teachers were the ones who needed to listen up! Life jackets were strapped on, and a competitive scramble for paddles followed.

Divided into two teams, each group got a crash course in land paddling, learning that even on solid ground, staying in sync was harder than expected. With names like Dragon Ball Z and Tsunami, the teams eagerly took to the water, battling choppy timing, rogue paddle strokes, and the occasional over-enthusiastic power surge. The first challenge was counting to ten in unison, which - if you're new to dragon boating, is easier said than done.

As they moved through drills focusing on timing and technique, the teachers saw firsthand how dragon boating demands full-team effort. With guidance from coach Sooupu and Bill, they practiced start sequences in secret, determined to gain an edge in the final showdown. The session culminated in a nail-biting boat battle, with both teams digging deep for a photo-finish race.

“Dragon boating is the ultimate team sport,” said ADBA Chairwoman Holly Claeys. “It’s a great way to build trust, communication, and a bit of healthy competition. You can’t just paddle harder, you have to work together.”

The day ended with plenty of laughs, a few sore arms, and some well-earned refreshments at Swashbucklers. A team-building success.

Think your team could use a challenge? Book your own corporate dragon boating session by contacting splash@adba.co.nz (tide dependent).