97 Secondary schools eye up Waka Ama national title   18 Mar 2015

97 Secondary schools eye up Waka Ama national title

More than 1450 paddlers from 97 schools are set to battle it out at the 2015 ActivePost National Secondary School Waka Ama Championships.

Now in its 14th year, the championships are being held from the 24th-27th March at Rotorua’s Blue Lake.

The championships are supported by New Zealand Post’s ActivePost initiative which encourages young people and communities to participate in sports and physical activity. Waka Ama has enjoyed phenomenal growth in recent years with more than 5000 paddlers from 89 clubs participating across New Zealand.

The ActivePost National Secondary School Waka Ama Championships are also one of the largest Secondary School sports events in New Zealand – second only to the Maadi Cup.

Chief Executive of Waka Ama New Zealand, Lara Collins said the event organisers were expecting a bumper turnout of more than 1000 spectators to view the racing.

“Each year, the Waka Ama fan base keeps growing. What’s especially pleasing is how the sport is becoming a popular option in schools for kids from all over the country and the Pacific. This year there are even 23 students travelling from Tahiti (College De Pao Pao) to take part.”

“It’s wonderfully unique and exciting for spectators too. Blue Lake is usually a serene and tranquil spot, but when the champs descend it turns into a place of energy and excitement with cheers ringing from the lakeside,” she said.

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.

New Zealand Post’s Community Sponsorship Manager Charles Ropitini said they were thrilled to support a sport that keeps growing in popularity.

“In just fourteen years we have seen the sport of Waka Ama racing take New Zealand schools by storm. It’s fun, engaging and very community driven. Kiwi kids can’t get enough of it and that is why ActivePost is delighted to partner with Waka Ama New Zealand to grow the Secondary School Championships into the biggest sports event on the school calendar,” he said.

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