Hosted by Nga Kaihoe o Aotearoa (New Zealand Maori Polynesian Canoe Sporting Federation), the National Waka Ama Club Sprint Championships will be held at Lake Karapiro in the Waikato from January 16 to 21.

Maori Television will broadcast highlights every night from Wednesday January 18 to Friday January 20 between 8.00 PM and 8.30 PM. Coverage of the final days' racing will screen on Saturday January 21 from 4.00 PM to 6.00 PM.

Maori Television will also televise the 2006 World Sprint Champs to be hosted by New Zealand, again at Lake Karapiro, in March 2006.

Fast, fun and exciting, waka ama – also known as outrigger canoe paddling – has huge national participation with more than 1,200 competitors expected at this year’s national championships.

Teams participate in a number of categories including midgets, intermediate, junior 16 (14-16 years), junior 19 (17-19 years), junior 23 (20-23 years), open (24 years and over), master (35 years and over), senior master (45 years and over), kuia (55 years and over) and kaumatua (60 years and over).

Races are held over a range of courses including 250-metre, 500-metre, 1000-metre and 1500-metre sprints.

Witness the best crews in the country as they battle it out for top honours at the 2006 WAKA AMA SPRINT NATIONALS on Maori Television from Wednesday January 18 to Friday January 20 between 8.00 PM and 8.30 PM, and on Saturday January 21 from 4.00 PM to 6.00 PM.

Website: www.maoritelevision.co.nz