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Mānawatia a Matariki

Koinei te mātahi o te tau. A time to honour the past, celebrate the present, and plan for the future. To all our Waka Ama whānau, enjoy your Matariki celebrations

Since our last edition of Waka Kōrero there have been several changes in and around our Waka Ama office! We are excited that our wonderful team member Tara Ikinofo (whom many of you would have either emailed or met at events over the summer) is now in the Waka Ama vortex and will continue her awesome mahi with us. Amiria is back from maternity leave so you will see her name popping up via emails and at events.

As always, the summer was a busy but exciting time of the year. We were truly fortunate to have Lawrence Vaike from London join our team for most of our summer events! His super organising skills were put to good use while he was in Aotearoa, and we want to give him a huge shout out for all his mahi he did for us! Another shout out to Lisa Tua’a for becoming another member of our waka ama whānau over the summer.

It is fitting that we have shared this edition of Waka Kōrero – during Matariki – as it is a time to gather with family and friends to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and plan for the future. We remember those we have lost from our Waka Ama whānau in the past year, Tamihana Nuku, Willie Kaa and George Skudder who were all a part of our whānau and sport. The Skudder, Kaa and Nuku whānau continue to be involved in waka ama and we want to send them our aroha at this time. As we look to the future, we are excited to announce the launch of our new kaupapa - Te Reo Taiohi Nga Kaihoe o Aotearoa! We are eager to develop this group as they provide a voice for rangatahi who are involved in waka ama in Aotearoa. Another exciting piece of news is that for the first time our annual affiliations are close to hitting 6,000!! This is massive for our sport and just shows how amazing our waka ama whānau is!

We look forward to sharing more editions of our Waka Kōrero newsletter in the coming months. We hope you are all keeping warm and safe as you head out on the water this winter! As always, we must make a shout out to our volunteers and administrators who keep our waka moving!

Ngā mihi maioha ki a koutou katoa

From the left: Debbie, Tara, Lawrence, Lara, Zalene and Whetumarama at the 2021 LDNs

Wow! What an amazing few days in Picton and Marlborough at the Waka Ama Long Distance Nationals 2021. This is the first time this event has been in Te Waka o Aoraki since 2014 and the first time in Waitohi – Picton, the first Waka Ama event in Picton...ever! And what an event to start with; 850 paddlers and thousands of whānau from 54 clubs all over Aotearoa... from Dunedin to the Far North. A fabulous team of volunteers led by an awesome organising committee who all went above and beyond to ensure the event was a success. Big thanks to Tracey Kingi, Mike Beech, Anisha Huntley, Jan Blyth, Zoe Horvath and the local Waikawa Waka Ama Whanau for many months of organising and mahi.

Thanks also to all the support boat drivers and crew that helped to keep everyone safe on the water, Cuzzy Bex and the amazing safety check crew, the caterers, the soup chefs, the vendors, registration desk, the merch tent sellers, the starters, timers, spotters and everyone in between... what an awesome crew!

Ngā mihi to all the Te Waka o Aoraki & Northland waka ama clubs that brought waka for other clubs to hire/use.

Thanks, Port Marlborough, Coastguard Marlborough and all the local businesses who jumped on board. Picton you are a great place to be!! ❤️

Lastly thanks to all the paddlers, clubs and whānau who made the trip to Picton, it is all the people that make an event memorable and seeing so many smiling faces and such a great vibe makes all the hard work so worth it.

Looking forward to the next one held in Waitangi 21st - 23rd April 2022, hosted by our Tai Tokerau whānau.

Submissions are now being accepted for our 2021 race rule review process. Submissions should be sent to admin@wakaama.co.nz by 7th August 2021.

Current race rules can be located on our website here.

Proposals must come from an affiliated Club, Region or Waka Ama NZ and must be accompanied by an explanation of the rationale for the change. We are happy to answer any questions that you may have, please direct to: admin@wakaama.co.nz

In 2021, the 32nd Anniversary of the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals, three very special people who dedicate much of their lives to the sport of Waka Ama in New Zealand have been inducted to Tohu Whakarewa Tangata o Ngā Kaihoe o Aotearoa - Marinna Millanta-Lowrey, Vivienne Harvey, and George Thomas.

You can read more about Marinna, George and Vivienne here: https://www.wakaama.co.nz/pages/read/1003855

Below: Marinna pictured with her Ngāti Rehia team mates receiving the award from Corrina Gage

Above: George Thomas receiving his award from Moana-Lee Raihania(WANZ Board member)

Below: Vivienne Harvey receiving her award at the 2021 Ice Breaker Challenge, presented to her by Lara Collins (WANZ CEO)

It was a great day at the 26th Annual Whaingaroa Hoe this year in May. There were almost 1100 paddlers from all over Aotearoa - making it be biggest club run event on our calendar.

We know this is not an easy task so we must congratulate our Whaingaroa Hoe whānau and the all the amazing mahi they do behind the scenes to run such a great event! See you in 2022!

20th Anniversary Icebreaker Event in Ōtepoti (Dunedin) was held over Queens Birthday Weekend. Fire in Ice provided a great weekend of paddling with over 240 paddlers registered - making it the biggest event ever held on the Dunedin harbour! Ngā mihi nui ki a koutout mo tō mahi! Thank you to the race organisers and volunteers over the last 20 years. A special thank you to the “originals” Vivienne Harvey, Toko Vakatini and Morna Picard for starting this awesome event and kaupapa! Only the bravest paddlers take on the Ice Breaker Challenge!

We look forward to the next 20 years!

We are excited to announce the launch of our new kaupapa - Te Reo Taiohi Nga Kaihoe o Aotearoa! If you are interested in being a rangatahi voice for Waka Ama NZ and contributing to the future of waka ama then this is for you! For full information and to check eligibility criteria, please ensure you read the Te Reo Taiohi Terms of Reference available on our website.

Waka Ama New Zealand was honoured and humbled to be the first recipients of the Jim Maniapoto Māori Participation Award at the Sport and Recreation Awards. The award recognises our Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Waka Ama Sprint Nationals and its contribution to whānau, hapū, iwi and Māori wellbeing through physical activity.

It is an acknowledgement for all our waka ama whānau; our regions, clubs, paddlers, spectators, supporters, sponsors and partners.

The growth and success of waka ama is due to the massive combined efforts of everyone involved in our sport along with all those who have gone before us. And we couldn’t be prouder of our sport and our waka ama whānau.

Waka Ama NZ Board member Turanga Barclay-Kerr, his partner Danielle Moeke and CEO Lara Collins accepted the Taonga from the late Jim Maniapoto’s wife Anne and Sport NZ Toihautū; Moana-Lee Raihania. We were fortunate to have representatives of our Ngāti Koroki Kahukura whānau from Karāpiro with us to accept this award; Karaitiana and Te Rairi Tamatea.

Waka Ama - Mā te Katoa - Mō āke tonu!

Waka Ama - for all - for life!

Just a quick reminder to our Waka Ama whānau to stay vigilant and ensure you are following all COVID-19 information in your area.

All information regarding Level 1 and Waka Ama related activities can be found here: https://wakaama.co.nz/pages/view/1005296

Sport NZ has developed the Balance is Better philosophy to inform and provide a framework that puts the needs of the participant first. It is focused on growing the capability of the sporting system to better prepare athletes in their development phase to help them realise their potential.

The focus of the Balance is Better philosophy is on why rangatahi play sport – to have fun, be challenged, develop and improve, be part of a team or group, and enjoy time with friends.

Waka Ama NZ, along with Sport New Zealand and our Waka Ama Whānau are working to ensure that this philosophy is emphasised within our sport and that we are enabling our rangatahi to - have fun, be challenged, develop and improve, be part of a team or group, and enjoy time with friends.

Over the next few months we will be sharing resources and tools to help enhance the experience of our rangatahi in waka ama and educate our parents, caregivers, aunties, uncles, and adults in this philosophy, ensuring we are providing tētahi korowai o manaakitanga ki ngā rangatahi.

For more information about the Balance is Better Philosophy - click here