Record numbers of schools sign up for Waka Ama Championships

13 March 2014

Record numbers of schools sign up for ActivePost Waka Ama Championships

Organisers report a surge in interest from schools wanting to compete at the 2014 ActivePost National Secondary Schools Waka Ama Championships

From 25th to 28th March, Rotorua’s Blue Lake will play host to 95 schools as they paddle for the national title on their Waka Ama( outrigger canoe). More than 1,500 students from schools throughout the country are expected to line up in various boat classes in the Under 19 and Under 16 divisions.

The championships are being supported by New Zealand Post’s ActivePost initiative, which encourages young people and communities to participate in sports and recreation.

Lara Collins, Chief Executive of Waka Ama New Zealand, said that the ActivePost Waka Ama Championships had grown into one of the largest Secondary School sports events in New Zealand – second only to the Maadi Cup.

“We’ve made huge strides these past thirteen years to take Waka Ama into as many schools as possible. Each year we get more schools taking the sport up and, for the very first time since the Christchurch Earthquake, we’ll have schools from the South Island competing at these championships.

“That’s fantastic for the sport. With more than 2,000 spectators lining the banks to cheer their crews, Blue Lake will be transformed into a sea of colour and noise,” she said.

For the ActivePost National Secondary Schools Championships, schools will compete for national honours in one, six or twelve paddler teams over distances of 250 and 500 metres. Teams competing in the six person 500m classes will also have to navigate their way through a hairpin turn at the halfway mark.

Nicola Airey, New Zealand Post Group Brand and Community Investment Manager, said that Waka Ama racing was perfect for getting young people to try their hand at sports.

“Through our ActivePost sponsorships, we’re encouraging Kiwis to develop a lifelong love of sports and a passion for living active healthy lifestyles. Waka Ama is exciting, fun and is readily accessible for all New Zealanders. That makes it a fantastic sport option for kids to pursue. We’re delighted to partner with Waka Ama NZ and grow these Secondary School’s Championships into the biggest sports event on the school calendar,” she said.

In just over twenty five years Waka Ama racing has grown in popularity to become the fastest growing sport in New Zealand. Each year, more than 8,000 paddlers from 85 Clubs turn out to race Waka Ama in a show of brute strength, endurance, and team work. Many thousands more attend to watch the racing as spectators.

Last year’s winners of the ActivePost National Secondary Schools Waka Ama Championships were:

• U19 250m Boys Championship: Huntly College
• U19 250m Girls Championship: Nga Taiatea Wherekura
• U19 500m Boys Championship: Huntly College
• U19 500m Girls Championship: Nga Taiatea Wharekura
• U16 250m Boys Championship: Kaipara College
• U16 250m Girls Championship: Auckland Girls Grammar School
• U16 500m Boys Championship: Tawa College
• U16 500m Girls Championship: Gisborne Girls’ High School

The schools competing in this year’s championships are:

Aotea College
Auckland Girls Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School
Bay of Islands College
Campion College
College de PAO PAO
De La Salle College
Dilworth School
Edgecumbe College
Epsom Girls Grammar School
Francis Douglas Memorial College
Gisborne Boys' High School
Gisborne Girls' High School
Hamilton Boys' High School
Hamilton Girls' High School
Hamilton's Fraser High School
Hastings Boys' High School
Hillcrest High School
Hoani Waititi Marae
Huntly College
James Cook High School
Kaipara College
Karamu High School
Kelston Boys High School
Kelston Girls College
Kerikeri High School
Lytton High School
Mana College
Manurewa High School
Mt Albert Grammar School
Napier Boys' High School
Napier Girls' High School
Ngaruawahia High School
Nga Taiatea Wharekura
Northland College
Opononi Area School
Otaki College
Papakura High School
Porirua College
Rongotai College
Rotorua Boys' High School
Rotorua Girls' High School
Rotorua Lakes High School
Sacred Heart College (Napier)
Sacred Heart Girls' College (Hamilton)
Sacred Heart Girls' College (New Plymouth)
Shirley Boys' High School
Southern Cross Campus.
St John's College
St Joseph's Maori Girls' College
St Patrick's College, Silverstream
St Patrick's College, Town
Tai Wananga
Taita College
Tangaroa College
Taupo Nui-a-tia College
Tauranga Boys' College
Tawa College
Te Aute College
Te Kuiti High School
Te Kura Hourua o Whangarei Terenga Paraoa
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Kawakawa Mai Tawhiti
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Ngati Kahungunu o Te Wairoa
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Koutu
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Kura Kokiri
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o te Tonga O Hokianga
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Tupoho
Te Kura Kaupapa o Ruamata
Te Kura Maori o Nga Tapuwae
Te Kura Maori o Porirua
Te Kura Takiwa o Te Kura-A-Iwi-O-Whakatupuranga Rua Mano
Te Puke High School
Te Rangi Aniwaniwa
Te Wharekura o Maniapoto
Te Wharekura o Mauao
Te Wharekura o Rakaumangamanga
Tikipunga High School
Trident High School
Tuakau College
Turakina Maori Girls' College
Upper Hutt College
Waitakere College
Wanganui City College
Wanganui High School
Wellington College
Wellington East Girls' College
Wellington Girls' College
Western Heights High School
Western Springs College
Whangarei Boys' High School
Whangarei Girls' High School
William Colenso College

ENDS

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