Long-distance event among biggest

Bird's eye view: Waka ama on city rivers Taruheru (left) and Waimatā as district crews prepare for racing. It begins this weekend off Waitangi in the Bay of Islands, where the long-distance nationals will be held, and culminates in the national sprint championships on Lake Karapiro in January. Picture: drone shot by Ben Cowper

Tairāwhiti will be well represented at the 2022 Long Distance Waka Ama Nationals being held off Waitangi in the Bay of Islands this weekend.

Over 1000 competitors, representing 62 clubs from all over the country, will compete over two days.

Paddlers, volunteers, organisers and officials will be welcomed with a pōwhiri at Te Tii Marae from 4pm this afternoon.

Racing will start tomorrow with single waka races of eight kilometres to 16km from 8am. In the afternoon, junior and senior short-course team events will be held, and two teams of adaptive (para) paddlers will take part.

On Saturday, W6 team races will be held from 8am. Teams of six will race over distances of up to 24km, depending on the age groups. Single waka races for juniors will be held throughout the day.

The championships are being hosted by Waka Ama New Zealand in association with Te Tai Tokerau Polynesian Canoe Association and Tai Kotuku Waka Ama Club.

Waka Ama New Zealand chief executive Lara Collins said this edition of the long-distance nationals would be one of the biggest so far.

Self Storage Gisborne Horouta Waka Hoe Club has 10 single waka entries ranging from junior 16 women to master 70 women, three two-person entries and five six-person teams. Some of the paddlers in the one- and two-person races are also racing in the six-person races.

Mareikura Waka Ama Club has 12 single waka entries ranging from J16 men and women to senior master women, three two-person entries and two six-person teams.