Q. How can a club or self-selected team become a national team?

A. It is important to understand that the only way a paddler will compete at the 2006 Worlds will be through the national selection process. If the paddler is to be in a team, it will be a nationally-selected team. So, as far as the 2006 Worlds are concerned, there will be no club or self-selected teams.

The first step is for the paddler to fill in a nomination form – this must be submitted by December 15 2004. If you want to compete at the 2006 Worlds you must submit this form.

In the end NKOA will be looking for the finally-selected national teams to comprise the best paddlers. But the opportunity is there now for individual paddlers, clubs or regions to see how they might put together a "best paddlers" team. If that team performs well through 2005, including at the October 2005 sprint event, they will show the selectors what they can do.

If the team does do well then there is a very good chance all its paddlers (i.e. not the team as such) will be selected into the NKOA squad.

The NKOA selectors will then look at putting teams together from the paddlers in that squad. As the selection panui says, the criteria are times, specialist positions in the canoe and ability to blend (experience is also important - that will be recorded on the paddlers nomination form).

If the team has been doing good times it obviously has something also in positional ability and blending. So there must be a good chance of that team ultimately becoming an NKOA selected team. One may ask - why would the selectors break up a team that has proven itself? This is what the selection panui means when it says there is a chance a self-selected team may ultimately become a NKOA selected team.

But there are no guarantees. The panui also states the possibility that the NKOA selectors may still want to "test" this team, perhaps, say, with a one different paddler who might get that team a better performance. In the end, that will be up to the selectors to decide.

Q. Why does the selection process have to involve individual paddlers being selected, rather than teams?

A. The NKOA Selection Committee feels that the best teams of paddlers should be put together. That does mean looking at paddlers individually, but – as explained above - there is a possibility that well-performing teams (even a club team) might end up being a national team – if they can show that they can be competitive at worlds level.

Q. Doesn’t there need to be some filtering process for paddlers at a regional level otherwise you will have every person nominating themselves?

A. NKOA does not want to discourage paddlers from putting in a nomination. But paddlers do need to be realistic about their chances of getting through the selection process. The simple question for a paddler to ask themselves before putting in a nomination is – “Do I really have the ability to meet the W1 selection time target or to be in a team which will achieve the team selection time target?”

The head coaches/ selectors would prefer not to have to cull out paddlers who obviously are not going to make the standard, but everyone who is nominated will be given a chance – the first stage being the W2 time trials during the 2005 nationals.

Q. Where do the clubs fit into all of this? Aren’t paddlers being encouraged to find another team?

A. It is not the intention of this process to break up club teams. The national squads aren’t actually selected until late October 2005. Even then, paddlers still need to paddle in a club team for the 2006 nationals. This is a separate process to clubs and club teams. There is no reason for a club paddler not to continue to paddle in their club team, and generally support their club. On the other hand, a top paddler in an average club team should have the opportunity to show what they can do, and try to get in a top national team for the Worlds – that’s what the selection process is all about, and is no different than most sports.

Q. What involvement has SPARC had in the selection process?

A. SPARC has had no input into this process, although we have consulted the SPARC criteria which will apply for recognition of our sport. SPARC criteria are quite comprehensive, and include national representation, international affiliation, incorporation, anti-doping policy, potential for growth, strategic plan, coaching systems, national and regional administration structures, partnerships e.g. with local authorities and regional sports trusts, and consistent competitiveness at world events. We meet a lot of these criteria, but so far have not put in place a proper national selection and coaching process.

We are already a serious sport. But if we want to be seen as a serious sport, we do need SPARC recognition. That is the gateway to things like funding, getting coaching and administration advice and support, getting paid coaches and administrators, getting major corporate and sponsorship recognition and having credibility/ status from e.g. government and the media. So if we want waka ama to progress, which obviously we do, we need SPARC.

Q. How can we be assured that the selection process will be fair?

A. The selection criteria for teams are ability to get the qualifying times, positional expertise and ability to blend with the other 5 paddlers. Of these, the main one is paddling ability – that is, the ability to be in a team that will get international-class times and, ultimately, medals at the Worlds. The selection system adopted has only been arrived at after a lot of consideration. Obviously, we need good and respected selectors – and are hoping we get them through the current appointment process. Good and respected selectors won’t favour their own clubs or mates. Also, as the major selection criterion is sprint times, the proven ability of a paddler to go fast can’t easily be argued. We are sure that everyone will see in the end that the paddlers and teams selected will do us proud.

The head coaches/ selectors will have a major role in selection. However there will be a separate head of selectors appointed by NKOA. That person will report back to NKOA on the fairness and transparency of the selection process.

Q. Is the intention to keep the selection policy after the Worlds 2006?

A. This selection process will be reviewed after the 2006 Worlds. If it is found that modifications are necessary, they will be looked at then. However, the Selection Committee feels that a national selection process is here now to stay. That is the best way of ensuring the best teams compete at all future Worlds.

Q. What impact will this have on waka ama now and in the future?

A. The main objective of the selection process is to give Aotearoa the best chance of gold medals at the 2006 Worlds. Through that we get not only success, but the best possible profile for better marketing waka ama and attracting growth in our sport.