Tēnā koutou katoa,

The Te Uranga o Te Rā Regional Board (TUOTR) has come to the collective decision that we will NOT be holding W1 Trials this year. As a result, we have come up with the option to Self-Seed ALL Divisions with Club Support and Consultation.

We believe that this is the most effective, efficient and fair way to progress forward and will still give us the opportunity to put our best paddlers forward to represent our region at the 2025 Waka Ama Sprint Nationals. The recent loss of such a significant figure in our paddling whānau serves as a poignant reminder of the values that underpin our sport – manaakitanga, kotahitanga and whanaungatanga. A self-seeding system, led by this regional board and supported by clubs, would allow us to collectively assess and rank our paddlers based on current form, experience and readiness, all whilst reflecting these values.

This process enables decisions to be made close to home, where paddlers are best known and supported. It is also a meaningful way to acknowledge and adapt to changes in performance, including those arising from recent bereavement, recovery periods and grade changes as a result of aging up.

Benefits Analysis:

• Fairness and Accuracy: Clubs are positioned to rank their own paddlers based on firsthand knowledge, ensuring fair placements.
• Community Accountability: By entrusting us with seeding paddlers, the process will strengthen our ability to be collectively responsible for our paddlers.
• Efficient Administration: Lessens the administrative and logistical workload on TUOTR, Clubs and Paddlers.
• Respectful and Inclusive: Acknowledges the effects of recent events on individuals and teams.

ALTERNATIVES:

Many options were considered alongside this one. Including a rescheduled trial at Lake Whakamarino on Saturday 21st December, a trial in Gisborne, and the option to hold separate trials (one in Hawke’s Bay and one in Gisborne). All of these options posed significant administrative and logistical challenges, not just for TUOTR but for the entire Te Uranga o te Rā paddling faculty. Rest assured we did not make this decision lightly and we maintain contact with Waka Ama NZ for support and guidance.

CONCLUSION:

We acknowledge that self-seeding may not yield a positive result for everyone and will not eliminate all disparities, as it relies on honest assessments across clubs. We also acknowledge the upset that this may cause. However, with clear guidelines and an emphasis on integrity and equity, we can mitigate that risk. In light of our collective grief and the desire to uplift the spirit of our waka ama whānau, we believe this system would be a meaningful and practical next step for us.

Please read through the attached PDF which outlines the next steps in this process. If you have any pātai after that, please reach out. At the moment the Waka Ama NZ page states that we have a trial on the 14th - this is incorrect and will be rectified soon but you can now enter your paddlers. Please share this message with them and remind them not to contact us directly as any queries that are not from Club Representatives or the club emails in this thread will be ignored.

Ngā mihi,

Te Uranga o Te Rā Regional Waka Ama Association