ACC supporting waka ama for health and wellbeing

It’s an event you need to experience to appreciate its magnitude and mana.

The Waka Ama Sprint Nationals is an annual week-long event held in January at Lake Karāpiro, Cambridge.

In 2024, paddlers and their whānau from all over Aotearoa will celebrate 34 years of waka ama, the Māori form of outrigger canoeing.

The event has come a long way since the humble beginnings of the inaugural meeting in 1990.

Around 380 races are held over the seven days, making the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals the biggest event of its kind in the world.

“Waka ama as an event is truly unique,” Waka Ama New Zealand Chief Executive Lara Collins says.

“Multiple generations of one whānau can compete at the same event, from tamariki through to kaumātua. That’s what makes waka ama mā te katoa, mō āke tonu (for all, for life).

“It’s a really special week for the whole whānau and a great way to begin the new year.”  

Over 70 of the 90 Waka Ama NZ-affiliated clubs will attend the event, as well as more than 3,200 competitors and over 8,000 spectators and whānau from around the motu.

This includes adaptive paddlers competing in specific adaptive (Para va’a) races, more wāhine than tāne taking part, and all ethnicities and cultures competing.

Over the years, waka ama events have been predominantly made up by 70 per cent Māori and Pacific peoples.   

The Waka Ama Sprint Nationals is also a qualifying event for the World Sprint Championships that will be held in Hawaii in August.

Up to 500 paddlers are expected to travel and compete in the world championship event.

Committed to supporting Māori kaupapa

In 2024, ACC is partnering with Waka Ama NZ to support the Sprint Nationals from 14 to 20 January at Lake Karāpiro, and the Secondary School Nationals being held at Lake Tikitapu in Rotorua from 18 to 22 March.

“We’re committed to supporting kaupapa like waka ama that promotes the health and wellbeing of whānau of all ages,” says Rēnata Blair (Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei), ACC Tumu Whakarae Māori Tuarua, Deputy Chief Executive Māori.

“I know from my experience that waka ama is an awesome week to be part of and we’re proud to contribute to the manaakitanga (hospitality), whanaungatanga (relationships) and oranga (wellbeing) of these regattas.”  

Our partnership with Waka Ama NZ aligns with our new strategy, Huakina Te Rā, which has the vision of Tōnui Ake Nei – A Thriving Aotearoa.

Helping all injured New Zealanders

ACC research shows Māori are more likely to sustain a serious injury than non-Māori, but less likely to make an injury claim.

This is something we’re committed to changing.   

“Our partnership is an opportunity to engage with whānau Māori,” Blair says.

“We’re focused on better serving whānau Māori and Māori communities, from mokopuna to kaumātua, and delivering on our purpose of improving lives every day.”

Blair says ACC wants all New Zealanders to have the help and support they need when they’re injured.

“If you’re injured, don’t tough it out (taihoa ake), and get help.”  

Providing rongoā as a rehabilitation option

ACC will host a whānau zone for supporters, paddlers and wider whānau to relax and watch the racing, as well try rongoā (traditional Māori healing).

Māori clients generally account for 12 per cent of new claims volumes annually but account for 16.7 per cent of the population.

ACC data shows rongoā Māori claim volumes more than doubled in the 12 months to November 2023, with 5,649 claims using rongoā in the year ended November 2023.

And it’s not just Māori who are accessing rongoā Māori services. Nearly 60 per cent of kiritaki (clients) accessing rongoā Māori are Māori and 41 per cent are non-Māori.

Waka Ama Sprint Nationals

14-20 January, 2024
Lake Karāpiro, Cambridge
More than 3,200 competitors and 8,000 spectators and whānau from around the motu
Supported by mana whenua Ngāti Korokī Kahukura and Ngāti Hauā

More information

More information is available on the Waka Ama NZ website.

Waka Ama Aotearoa New Zealand