Far North district councillor Hilda Halkyard-Harawira among Northland success at waka ama champs

Far North district councillor Hilda Halkyard-Harawira won the W1 500m sprint at the 2025 Waka Ama NZ sprint nationals.

From the debating chamber to the waka ama national championships, Far North district councillor Hilda Halkyard-Harawira has plenty of skill at both and she won a national waka ama title to prove it.

Ngā Tai o Tokerau Māori ward councillor Halkyard-Harawira claimed first place in the Master 70 women’s W1 500m sprint at the 2025 Waka Ama NZ sprint nationals held last week at Lake Karāpiro.

Halkyard-Harawira’s win was among several top-three finishes from Northland waka ama clubs.

Competing in lane one, Halkyard-Harawira, of Kaihoe o Ngati Rehia Trust, held the lead for most of the race and won with an impressive time of 3m 10.82s.

The 35th annual Waka Ama NZ sprint nationals attracted a record-breaking 3875 participants from throughout Aotearoa. The event, supported by manawhenua groups Ngāti Korokī Kahukura and Ngāti Hauā, is set to host more than 8000 spectators throughout the seven-day competition.

You can watch Halkyard-Harawira winning her race at https://www.maoriplus.co.nz/show/waka-ama-sprint-nationals-2025/play/6367107469112.

Full results can be found at https://wakaama.co.nz/content/files/678a18571a086/Results%20-%20Day%206.PDF