Record numbers of schools sign up for Waka Ama Championships 13 Mar 2014
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13 March 2014
Record numbers of schools sign up for ActivePost Waka Ama Championships
Organisers report a surge in interest from schools wanting to compete at the 2014 ActivePost National Secondary Schools Waka Ama Championships
From 25th to 28th March, Rotorua’s Blue Lake will play host to 95 schools as they paddle for the national title on their Waka Ama( outrigger canoe). More than 1,500 students from schools throughout the country are expected to line up in various boat classes in the Under 19 and Under 16 divisions.
The championships are being supported by New Zealand Post’s ActivePost initiative, which encourages young people and communities to participate in sports and recreation.
Lara Collins, Chief Executive of Waka Ama New Zealand, said that the ActivePost Waka Ama Championships had grown into one of the largest Secondary School sports events in New Zealand – second only to the Maadi Cup.
“We’ve made huge strides these past thirteen years to take Waka Ama into as many schools as possible. Each year we get more schools taking the sport up and, for the very first time since the Christchurch Earthquake, we’ll have schools from the South Island competing at these championships.
“That’s fantastic for the sport. With more than 2,000 spectators lining the banks to cheer their crews, Blue Lake will be transformed into a sea of colour and noise,” she said.
For the ActivePost National Secondary Schools Championships, schools will compete for national honours in one, six or twelve paddler teams over distances of 250 and 500 metres. Teams competing in the six person 500m classes will also have to navigate their way through a hairpin turn at the halfway mark.
Nicola Airey, New Zealand Post Group Brand and Community Investment Manager, said that Waka Ama racing was perfect for getting young people to try their hand at sports.
“Through our ActivePost sponsorships, we’re encouraging Kiwis to develop a lifelong love of sports and a passion for living active healthy lifestyles. Waka Ama is exciting, fun and is readily accessible for all New Zealanders. That makes it a fantastic sport option for kids to pursue. We’re delighted to partner with Waka Ama NZ and grow these Secondary School’s Championships into the biggest sports event on the school calendar,” she said.
In just over twenty five years Waka Ama racing has grown in popularity to become the fastest growing sport in New Zealand. Each year, more than 8,000 paddlers from 85 Clubs turn out to race Waka Ama in a show of brute strength, endurance, and team work. Many thousands more attend to watch the racing as spectators.
Last year’s winners of the ActivePost National Secondary Schools Waka Ama Championships were:
• U19 250m Boys Championship: Huntly
College
• U19 250m Girls Championship: Nga Taiatea
Wherekura
• U19 500m Boys Championship: Huntly
College
• U19 500m Girls Championship: Nga Taiatea
Wharekura
• U16 250m Boys Championship: Kaipara
College
• U16 250m Girls Championship: Auckland Girls
Grammar School
• U16 500m Boys Championship: Tawa
College
• U16 500m Girls Championship: Gisborne
Girls’ High School
The schools competing in this year’s championships are:
Aotea College
Auckland
Girls Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School
Bay of
Islands College
Campion College
College de PAO
PAO
De La Salle College
Dilworth School
Edgecumbe
College
Epsom Girls Grammar School
Francis Douglas
Memorial College
Gisborne Boys' High School
Gisborne
Girls' High School
Hamilton Boys' High School
Hamilton
Girls' High School
Hamilton's Fraser High
School
Hastings Boys' High School
Hillcrest High
School
Hoani Waititi Marae
Huntly College
James
Cook High School
Kaipara College
Karamu High
School
Kelston Boys High School
Kelston Girls
College
Kerikeri High School
Lytton High
School
Mana College
Manurewa High School
Mt Albert
Grammar School
Napier Boys' High School
Napier Girls'
High School
Ngaruawahia High School
Nga Taiatea
Wharekura
Northland College
Opononi Area
School
Otaki College
Papakura High School
Porirua
College
Rongotai College
Rotorua Boys' High
School
Rotorua Girls' High School
Rotorua Lakes High
School
Sacred Heart College (Napier)
Sacred Heart
Girls' College (Hamilton)
Sacred Heart Girls' College
(New Plymouth)
Shirley Boys' High School
Southern
Cross Campus.
St John's College
St Joseph's Maori
Girls' College
St Patrick's College, Silverstream
St
Patrick's College, Town
Tai Wananga
Taita
College
Tangaroa College
Taupo Nui-a-tia
College
Tauranga Boys' College
Tawa College
Te Aute
College
Te Kuiti High School
Te Kura Hourua o
Whangarei Terenga Paraoa
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Kawakawa
Mai Tawhiti
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ngati Kahungunu o Te
Wairoa
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Koutu
Te Kura
Kaupapa Maori o Te Kura Kokiri
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o te
Tonga O Hokianga
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Tupoho
Te
Kura Kaupapa o Ruamata
Te Kura Maori o Nga Tapuwae
Te
Kura Maori o Porirua
Te Kura Takiwa o Te
Kura-A-Iwi-O-Whakatupuranga Rua Mano
Te Puke High
School
Te Rangi Aniwaniwa
Te Wharekura o
Maniapoto
Te Wharekura o Mauao
Te Wharekura o
Rakaumangamanga
Tikipunga High School
Trident High
School
Tuakau College
Turakina Maori Girls'
College
Upper Hutt College
Waitakere
College
Wanganui City College
Wanganui High
School
Wellington College
Wellington East Girls'
College
Wellington Girls' College
Western Heights High
School
Western Springs College
Whangarei Boys' High
School
Whangarei Girls' High School
William Colenso
College
ENDS
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