A record-breaking number of paddlers will take part in the biggest ever Waka Ama Secondary School Nationals at Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake), Rotorua. The 22nd annual week-long event will bring over 2,200 rangatahi from 124 kura around Aotearoa, making this year’s national championship the biggest in its history. The event is co-hosted with Te Waiariki Purea Trust and supported by manawhenua Tūhourangi.
For the first time, the event has expanded to a five-day competition to accommodate the growth of waka ama and the increasing popularity of the championship for rangatahi. Across two age groups for wāhine and tāne, there will be over 220 races in the W1, W6, and W12 categories. To provide more participation opportunities, three divisions - Te Ihu, Te Takere, and Te Kei, named after parts of the waka, will allow rangatahi to progress through the competition stages.
The Waka Ama Secondary School Nationals is a free event for all whānau to come down and watch our talented rangatahi showcase their waka ama skills on Lake Tikitapu. The national event will begin with a pōwhiri on Monday 24 March at Lake Tikitapu, followed by a full day of racing. Coverage of the event racing will be made available online
