Maori Television Broadcasts Waka Ama 2007

Publicity Release
Friday December 8 2006

Maori Television Broadcasts Waka Ama 2007

One of the world’s fastest growing water sports returns to Maori Television for a third time with exclusive coverage of the 2007 NATIONAL WAKA AMA CLUB SPRINT CHAMPS in January.

Hosted by Nga Kaihoe o Aotearoa (New Zealand Maori Polynesian Canoe Sporting Federation), the National Waka Ama Club Sprint Championships will be held at Lake Karapiro in the Waikato from January 15 to 20.

Maori Television will broadcast highlights of the competition over three weeks – on Sunday January 21 from 2.00 PM to 4.00 PM; Sunday January 28 from 2.00 PM to 4.00 PM; and Sunday February 4 from 2.00 PM to 4.00 PM.

Fast, fun and exciting, waka ama – also known as outrigger canoe paddling – has huge national participation with more than 2300 competitors expected at next year’s national championships.

Teams participate in a number of categories including midgets (7-10 years), intermediate (11-13 years), junior 16 (14-16 years), junior 19 (17-19 years), open 23 (20-23 years), open (24 years and over), master women (35 years and over), master men (40 years and over), senior master women (45 years and over), senior master men (50 years and over), kuia (55 years and over) and kaumatua (60 years and over).

Races are held over a range of courses including 250-metre, 500-metre, 1000-metre and 1500-metre sprints.

Witness the best crews in the country as they battle it out for top honours at the 2007 NATIONAL WAKA AMA CLUB SPRINT CHAMPS – exclusively on Maori Television on Sunday January 21, Sunday January 28 and Sunday February 4 from 2.00 PM to 4.00 PM.

ENDS

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR 2007 WAKA AMA SPRINT NATIONALS

Year 2007
Censor General Exhibition (G)
Duration 3 x 120-minute sports programmes
Language Maori language with English language graphics

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