‘Back where they belong’: Emotional return for oldest waka ama club

Waka ama enthusiast Raipoia Brightwell says it was an emotional and hugely significant moment for her club.

The Mareikura Canoe Club – the oldest waka ama club in New Zealand – were back at the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals at Lake Karāpiro near Cambridge, after overcoming huge adversity.

The club and its members suffered extensive damage from Cyclone Gabrielle last year.

Raipoia’s family home was badly flooded, while the club lost its training space and most of its equipment was damaged. Members were not able to get back on the river for months.

Raipoia and her husband Matahi cleaned the silt from their Gisborne home for more than a month. They disposed of belongings and removed the black mould that set in after the floodwaters receded.

Matahi, a renowned artist, was lost for words when the Waimata River overflowed into his property, damaging his sculptures and artworks. 

“It’s huge being back here,” said Raipoia, on the bank of Lake Karāpiro after her race. “In many ways, this event is a restart for our club.”

“I think getting back to the sprint nationals would have to be one of the biggest achievements in the history of our club. We’re proud of our recovery.”

Laying the foundations for waka ama

The club was founded on the east coast by Matahi in 1985 after he observed and was inspired by va’a racing in Tahiti. Their work laid the foundations for the sport to grow and develop in New Zealand.

There were 16 teams from the Mareikura Canoe Club at this year’s nationals. Around 380 races were held over the seven days, making the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals the biggest event of its kind in the world.

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

Raipoia says competing and connecting through waka ama is “essential to our life”.

When Cyclone Gabrielle hit the East Coast last year, everything stopped for the club.   

“Our people paddle all year around and, all of a sudden, there was nothing. It was devastating.”

She says the impact of that has been significant and caused long-term mental stress and anxiety.

“Being on the awa (river) is important to us, it’s something we enjoy. It’s good for us as a sport and for our wellbeing, but also as a family activity to bring people together. And when you don’t have that, it has a big impact.

“As Polynesians, doing waka ama is important for us as it connects us to our roots. This sport goes far beyond competing with each other, it’s linked to our mental health and who we are.”

It was important to set an example for their club members and rangatahi (youth) in the region.

“To bring our paddlers here after overcoming a lot of adversity is special – it shows our youth you can still achieve in hard times and, if you never give up, good things are still possible.”

Coming together after adversity

Lara Collins, Chief Executive of Waka Ama NZ, says it was a special week in Cambridge after so many people had recovered to compete.

“A lot of our whānau from around the East Coast – Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Napier and Wairoa – were badly impacted last year by weather events,” she says.

“We’re proud of them and what they’ve achieved to be here. To see the battles on the water and camaraderie off it has been awesome.

“Being able to come together and rebuild, after the COVID years and the weather events, we’re happy to be back together, and we’re looking forward to keeping on building.”

ACC getting behind waka ama

For the first time in 2024, ACC sponsored the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals, to help in our goal of better serving whānau Māori and Māori communities.

Rēnata Blair (Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei), ACC Tumu Whakarae Māori Tuarua, Deputy Chief Executive Māori, says many clubs used the event as an important goal to aim for.

“After what they’ve experienced, to have the Mareikura Canoe Club back competing is truly inspiring – they’re back where they belong,” he says.

“We’re committed to supporting kaupapa like waka ama that promotes the health and wellbeing of whānau of all ages.

“Waka ama is a special week to be part of and we’re proud to contribute to the manaakitanga (hospitality), whanaungatanga (relationships) and oranga (wellbeing) of this event.” 

‘There’s no age in waka ama’

Raipoia is a Hall of Fame member of Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti.

The 67-year-old, who was born-and-raised in Tahiti, has no plans to hang up her paddle just yet.  

“There’s no age in waka ama,” she says.

“I’m currently competing in the open division. It’s for life, you just need to have the skill and fitness and you can keep going.

“After what we’ve been through, I just love being back on the water.”