Casting confidence
Fishing may still carry a reputation for being a man’s game, but in Whitianga, tides are changing.
On Friday, 1st of August, Hunting & Fishing Whitianga hosted a sold-out event that brought together a lively crew of wahine for an evening of creativity, connection, and casting. With guest speakers Renee Taylor from SALT Aotearoa and Lisa Högbom from OKUMA NZ, the “Sip and Paint” night aimed to build a sense of community around fishing, and break down the idea that you need to know everything before you pick up a rod.
Wahine arrived from 5:30pm, each receiving a goodie bag packed with $100 worth of products. Over kai from Basker and plenty of chatter, the group quickly settled in.
Lisa opened the night with her personal story and a reminder that “there are no silly questions” when it comes to learning to fish. Her message was clear: it’s all about finding your crew and feeling comfortable to share. Renee followed, speaking about her journey into freediving and the founding of SALT Aotearoa. Her connection to te ao Māori and her whakapapa through the ocean inspired many in the room.
Then came the fun: lures were handed out, paint was poured, and the group of women began decorating their own custom fishing gear, with plenty of laughs along the way. A surprise casting competition added an extra layer of energy to the already buzzing atmosphere.
But this wasn’t just about a one-off night. Entrepreneur Ash Taiapa, alongside her partner Store Owner Alex Reynolds and the team at Hunting & Fishing Whitianga, created the event with a bigger kaupapa in mind
“I wanted to create something fresh, positive and exciting for our community,” Ash says. “Fishing is often seen as a male-dominated activity, but so many wahine are curious and keen to get involved. They just might not know where to start, or feel uncomfortable asking questions.”
Ash and Alex are determined to shift that. “Ladies don’t have to cross the street and grab a coffee while their partners buy fishing gear,” Ash laughs. “They can do that together, and then get the coffee!”
To keep the momentum going, all attendees now have 30 days to catch a fish using the lure they painted that night. The three heaviest catches will win vouchers from Hunting & Fishing Whitianga and supporting sponsors.
“The idea was to give them something they created themselves, and then a fun reason to get out there and use it,” Alex explains. “We’re already planning more wahine nights and can’t wait to see more ladies coming through the store, sharing their stories and getting stuck in.”
The team also gave a big shoutout to photographer CJ Pole, who captured the night beautifully, and to the generous sponsors who helped make the event happen.
More events are already in the pipeline. “Stay tuned and follow our socials,” says Ash. “There’s definitely more coming up!”
To keep up with the action:
Instagram: @huntfishwhitianga
Facebook: Hunting & Fishing Whitianga, New Zealand
Hunting & Fishing Whitianga
2 Reweti Drive, Whitianga
07-260 5014
whitianga.store@huntingandfishing.co.nz
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