Waka ama bringing whānau together
We’re proud to be supporting the health and wellbeing of Māori whānau by again being part of the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals, the biggest event of its kind in the world.
Waka ama enthusiast Raipoia Brightwell says it’s hard to sum up the feeling at Lake Karāpiro during the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals.
She says the competition is more than a sport – it’s an opportunity for paddlers and their whānau for manaakitanga (hospitality) and whanaungatanga (building relationships).
Raipoia would know.
She’s one of a select few who’ve been to every Waka Ama Sprint Nationals since the event began 35 years ago. The others include Corrina Gage, Hoturoa Kerr, Louise Henderson and Raipoia’s husband, Matahi Brightwell.
Raipoia is a stalwart of the Mareikura Waka Ama Club in Gisborne – the first club to restart the sport in New Zealand in 1985.
She says connecting through waka ama is “essential to our life”.
“This sport goes far beyond competing with each other, it’s linked to our mental health and who we are,” says the Tahitian, who is a Waka Ama Hall of Fame inductee.
It runs in the family as Matahi was instrumental in helping bring the sport back to Aotearoa from Tahiti in the 1980s.
‘I just love being out on the water’
This month, paddlers and their whānau from all over the country are celebrating 35 years of waka ama, the Māori form of outrigger canoeing.
Raipoia is looking forward to the milestone and to continuing her legacy at the event.
She’s played a leading role in inspiring members of her club and paddlers from Tairāwhiti to take up the sport.
The 67-year-old 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. I just love being out on the water.”
From humble beginnings to world-leading event
The Waka Ama Sprint Nationals is an annual week-long event held in January at Lake Karāpiro, Cambridge.
It’s come a long way since the humble beginnings of the first 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).”
Over 70 of the 90 Waka Ama NZ-affiliated clubs are attending 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.
Improving health outcomes for Māori
Over the years, waka ama events have been predominantly made up by 70 per cent Māori and Pacific peoples.
Andy Milne, ACC Deputy Chief Executive of Strategy, Engagement and Prevention, says we’re proud to support the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals.
“We’re committed to supporting kaupapa like waka ama that promotes the health and wellbeing of whānau of all ages,” Andy says.
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).
We’ll also have a stall talking about our Kaupapa Māori services – Hāpai and Te Ara Tuhono, culturally grounded care developed to improve outcomes for whānau after injury.
Our research shows Māori are more likely to experience a serious injury than non-Māori but are less likely to make an injury claim.
“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 take place from 12 to 18 January.
Find out more on the Waka Ama New Zealand website.
Waka Ama Sprint Nationals
12-18 January
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.
ACC is a partner of Waka Ama New Zealand to improve access and health outcomes for Māori.
