For generations New Zealanders have enjoyed recreational fishing.It is a healthy pastime that families and friends can enjoy together and it provides lessons in safety and environmental responsibility.To provide more young New Zealanders with the opportunity to try this fun and beneficial recreational activity, the NZ Sports IndustryAssociation have provided these guidelines to assist you in the preparation and the organisation of  TAKF days.We would like to encourage children, their parents, extended families, caregivers and friends to get involved in the TAKF day in their local area.

• to give children a positive outdoor interest to pursue
• to promote respect for the environment
• to bring children and their families closerthrough a shared experience

The NZ Sports Industry Association will provide posters, stickers, certificates and copies of this pamphlet free of charge.
Sports and fishing stores that are members of NZSIA will act as information centres.

No tobacco or alcohol sponsorship.
All activities must be free to children.
No person shall use the TAKF name or logo for anything other than mentioned in this pamphlet without written permission from the NZSIA.

A responsible adult in each town and district who is knowledgeable in fishing will need to be appointed as chief co-ordinator.

That person then forms an Action Committee with representatives from organisations who wish to help.
Typically a committee will comprise of representatives from the local fishing tackle or sports store, local schools, guides, scouts, blind institute, IHC, Police Youth Aid, Lions, Rotary, angling clubs and so on.

Choose a location that’s big enough to accommodate for instruction and for fishing.
A wharf or sectioned off piece of coast can work well. Lakes and rivers can also be used.
Trout hatchery ponds or stocked ponds are excellent for beginners.
Your may need to use a bus or train to get the children to a good location.

Your TAKF event may not involve actual fishing. Very successful days have been organised with tackle displays and fishing videos.
Games can be arranged around casting. For example casting into rings or a coconut shy, using spinning gear and a rubber ball to knock down tin cans.
Add to all that a sausage sizzle and a bag of free giveaways and you have a great day.

You will need help on the day, we recommend at least one adult instructor for every five kids.
Then you need volunteers to help with things like transport, parking, food and drink preparation, issuing awards and prizes, and cleaning up afterward.

Involve your NZSIA tackle or sports store, use his shop as a central information post. Ask kids to bring their own fishing gear if they can, or ask parents to purchase an inexpensive kid’s outfit.

For saltwater getting fishing bait should be no problem, as most bait companies will be happy to donate bait, or try your local fish shop or commercial fisherman.
Ground bait (berley) can be made by mixing chickenmash with water until it forms a thick paste. Ask your local stock agent to donate a sack.

Ask parents to register at the tackle or sports store well in advance of the event (this will let you know how many you are catering for).
Design a simple registration/release-of-liability form. Have these forms ready prior to publicly announcing the event.

Your TAKF participants may not know much about fishing, but they will be expert eaters.
Some alternatives are hot dogs, sausage sizzles, potato chips, lots of drinks are all essential. You may be able to have it all donated or you may ask a chip and hamburger van to cover the event.
An ice-cream van on site always goes down well.

On the day of your event, meet volunteers, guides, and instructors at the location at least two hours before the start time and make sure everyone understands their part.
Put up posters and signs. Check on things like tackle, food, safety, toilets, bait etc.
If you’re using ground bait (berley), start putting it in one hour before you intend to start fishing.

ABOVE ALL, KEEP IT EXCITING AND FUN.

• If boats are involved, make sure each child has a life jacket
• If the weather is marginal DON’T GO (have an alternative venue planned)
• On wharves or rocks, have a long rope with buoyancy attached
• At least one non-fishing adult per five children
• If you can, have a reserve boat in attendance
• Carry some spare warm clothing
• Have a first aid kit and someone who knows how to remove fish hooks.

Giveaways can be used in many exciting ways which will add interest to your day. Prizes can be given for first, second and third fish caught; first snapper or sprat, heaviest snapper etc.
Give away lots of prizes and freebies, the kids love it.
These prizes should be small but have lots of them. They can include free hamburgers from McDonald’s, free coke or chicken from KFC, fishing tackle, sweets, balloons, books, the list is endless and most companies will donate them willingly when you explain what they are for.

Gaining good publicity for TAKF in your area is vital to increasing local interest and participation in the event. Obviously, this interest is critical if you are to leverage sales opportunities for your business. We suggest you get in touch with your local paper and introduce yourself, explain who you are and what you are planning for TAKF in your area. Most news stories are based around what’s known as the five W’s and the H; Who, What, When, Where, Why and How? Make sure when you contact the media that you have these facts at your fingertips. The New Zealand Sports Industry Association will provide you with a press kit. It will include a broad background on TAKF, familiarise yourself with this document. It will also include an example of a TAKF news story, some ideas of what might be of interest to a journalist and the best way to approach them with your story idea. However, you are on the ground in your area and are therefore best placed to identify any potential stories with a local angle. If you are unsure about anything, call NZSIA  09 306 0805
Contact your local radio hosts and offer to be a guest on their show.