Crews from the Te Waka o Aoraki (South Island) region and Ōtautahi made a big impression at the 25th Annual Waka Ama NZ National Sprint Championships held at Lake Karapiro in January.
To begin with, the region had its first ever midgets (under 10 years) team compete at the nationals, represented by a full Kāi Tahu team from Te Waka Pounamu Outrigger Canoe Club.
The team included Mihiroa, Meihana and Tainui Pauling, Whetu Marama and Nukutai Rupene and Haawi Whaitiri.
Later in the week, the men’s crew from Te Waka Pounamu, called Aoraki Matatū and including Kāi Tahu kaihoe, Adrian Tukaki, Craig Pauling and Iaean Cranwell, won two silver medals – one in the premier men’s W6 (six person) 500 metre race, and the other in the W12 500 metre race.
In the latter race they teamed up with another Christchurch crew – Dogfish from the Te Awa Haku club – who also took out gold in the W6 1500 metre race. This was an amazing effort for the two men’s crews from Ōtautahi, who with less than 5 per cent of the paddlers, took home a third of all the premier men’s team medals on offer.
Coverage of the waka ama nationals can be viewed on Saturday afternoons on Māori Television as well as on demand on the Māori TV website: http://www.maoritelevision.com/tv/shows/2014-waka-ama-sprints?from=carousel. More information about waka ama, including clubs near you and the nationals can be found at www.wakaama.co.nz
Aoraki Matatū in action at the 25th Waka Ama nationals on Lake Karapiro.
Aoraki Dogfish with their medals after a successful finals day for the Te Waka o Aoraki region.