Many thanks to the following, Wellington City Council & New Zealand Community Trust for sponsoring the Matariki Waka Ama Event held on Wellington Harbour in celebration of the Maori new year and to the organisers from within Hoe Tonga Pacifica Waka Ama Association - Paora Howe, Chris Fox, Samantha Tamanui, Raukawa Comerford, Trish Prentice & Katie Townsend your hard work throughout was simply amazing.

Many thanks to Wellington Tenths Trust, Wellington City Council, Maatua Whangai Trust, Taonga Pounamu Bill & Anne Rawiri, Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr for the beautiful sponsored taonga which will be returned yearly.

To all our volunteers on the day you made it possible to run such a successful event. To all our competitors especially the Motueka, Nelson and Gisborne crews who travelled from afar, it was a pleasure to have you compete amongst and against our regional paddlers and encourage and extend our welcome to all to come again.

Strong gale force winds forecasted left the organising team making the call Friday afternoon to postpone the event from Saturday to the Sunday, unfortunately several teams withdrew. Sunday brought about a pleasant day, racing seen on the water was indeed competitive. The W6 J16 regional women Matakokiri looked strong from start to finish and held great form throughout the 10KM race. In the 18KM race Mot Menz from Motueka Waka Ama Club powered throughout winning the race with a mighty time of 1.16.33 followed by Ochearn from Nga waka Tekau Rautau Ki Poriria Inc 1.22.05. In the Open women's division competition proved to be exciting with Kokiri Allsorts from Kokiri Marae Waka Ama Club pushing hard throughout and winning the 18KM race with a time of 1.24.40 hot on their trail was Team Davis Olgivie from Motueka Waka Ama Club with a time of 1.25.08, and the Mareikura women coming in 3rd place with a time of 1.29.16. Fantastic racing.

In the K1 event Nick Mulcahy competed in both the 10 & 18KM races and promised to ring more Kayak / Surf Ski competitors along next year. A bit of bad luck struck the K2 double when their rudder snapped off half way into the race. The event finished with a low key powhiri, no muck around prize giving, followed by a beautiful hangi, finishing before time at 5.30pm.


We look forward to seeing you all again next year and to those who haven't tested these Wellington waters, pencil this event in next year.

HTPWAA
Hoe Tonga Pacifica Waka Ama Association