From smashing the ball to hitting the water
World long drive golf champion Phillis Meti recently returned to New Zealand from her United States base to take part in the ACC-supported Waka Ama Sprint Nationals. She says being welcomed back into the waka ama community was a special feeling.
Multi-talented Phillis Meti is walking around the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals at Lake Karāpiro and her late dad Raz is with her.
Phillis is the current world long drive golf champion and highly-regarded in her sport – but her first love was waka ama. It was a love of competing and being out on the water that was fostered by her father.
Her dad passed away suddenly in early 2015 following a battle with cancer. He was a huge influence on his daughter’s successful sporting career and her life.
Being back in Aotearoa and on the banks of Lake Karāpiro, Phillis can hear his voice.
“My dad is definitely here,” says Phillis, who is of Cook Islands and Māori heritage.
“He was my hero in many ways. He had a lot of wisdom to share and I didn’t always listen. I miss him a lot. It was hard when he passed away because I didn’t feel ready to lose him.
“I have a happy cry being here because I know how much he loved it.”
It’s a sombre moment but Phillis is in a good place. She loves coming back to the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals as it keeps her connected with her dad.
It’s snowing in her adopted hometown of Atlanta, capital of the American state of Georgia. So to be in the sunshine on the banks of Lake Karāpiro is healing, both physically and emotionally.
“Dad got me and a lot of my friends into waka ama,” she says. “Growing up, he was either at work or at the canoe club and that became our life.”
Phillis says many of the teenagers her dad helped coach are now at the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals and even have their own kids at the event.
“It’s crack up,” she says.
“I see videos on Instagram of my friends and they're cheering on their kids, and they’re yelling out things my dad used to yell at us when we were kids. It’s come full circle.”
Phillis Meti, centre, with other members of the ACC team at the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals.
‘Dad was with me when I needed him’
Phillis says her dad’s voice was with her when she needed it most. She was in the World Championship Long Drive Final in 2016 shortly after he passed away.
She was on her eighth ball – and it was her last chance to pull out a big one.
Raz introduced his daughter to golf when she was 11 at Redwood Park in Swanson, an outlying suburb of west Auckland.
Her longest drive is an incredible 414 yards (379m).
In that world final, she hit the ball 310 yards (283m) to claim the global title, before looking skywards to honour her dad.
“Dad would say to me, ‘Just hit it. Don’t worry about your technique, just play the game and try to smash it.’ I harnessed his advice on that final shot, and it was the difference.”
At home on the water
Back home, Phillis travelled south to Cambridge to take in the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals with her mum. She got the call up to get back on the water as part of the ACC corporate team, invited to take part by a friend.
“I can’t explain how much I love this event. It’s a world away from what I do for a living on the professional golf circuit but that’s why I love it,” she says.
“I’m in an environment that feels like home. People look and talk like me, and I have so many friends here from years in the sport. We all love laughing and having fun.
“To get back on the water was an incredible feeling.”
Phillis is now 37 and still highly-competitive on the world long driving circuit, which is all about explosive power and hitting the ball a long way. She says there are similarities between waka ama and long drive golf.
“It’s the same feeling when you’re on the tee or on the water. You have that moment, and you have to deliver and give it your best,” she says.
“On the water, it’s all about teamwork, communication and being in sync with each other. I learned a lot from waka ama when I was growing up.
“If you haven’t come to this event before, you need to experience it.”
Improving health outcomes for Māori
Earlier this month, paddlers and their whānau from all over Aotearoa came together to celebrate 35 years of the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals.
The event has come a long way since the humble beginnings of the inaugural meeting in 1990.
Around 380 races were held over the seven days, making the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals the biggest event of its kind in the world.
Andy Milne, ACC’s Deputy Chief Executive of Strategy, Engagement and Prevention, says we’re proud to support the event.
“We’re committed to supporting kaupapa like waka ama that promotes the health and wellbeing of whānau of all ages,” Andy says.
ACC hosted a Whānau Zone for supporters, paddlers and wider whānau to relax and watch the racing, as well try rongoā (traditional Māori healing).
Our research shows Māori are more likely to experience a serious injury than non-Māori but are less likely to make an injury claim.
“We’re focused on ensuring Māori are aware of the support they’re entitled to following an injury,” Andy says.
“Community events like waka ama help us to raise awareness and build understanding around ACC services that improve access and health outcomes for Māori.”
Supported by mana whenua Ngāti Korokī Kahukura and Ngāti Hauā, and run by Waka Ama New Zealand, the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals took place this month at Lake Karāpiro in Cambridge.
Find out more on the Waka Ama New Zealand website.
