Anika West, of events company Blah Blah Marketing, said she had been discussing the idea of a waka festival with her colleague Steph Godsiff for the past eight years and with the community for five.
"We were hoping someone else might pick it up and run with it. In the end we bit the bullet."
Mrs West said they had received massive support from Rob Cameron and Sharee Tito of Waitangi Waka Ama Kaihoe, who were bringing their knowledge of waka ama to Blah Blah's experience of organising events.
Albert Cash of Kawakawa, who plays a key role in the Waitangi Day waka fleet, will help with the traditional waka display, while Waitangi Treaty Grounds carver Anthony Dunn has been busy making trophies.
Mrs West said if there was going to be a waka festival anywhere in New Zealand, it should be in the Bay of Islands and it should combine waka ama and traditional waka.
She hoped it would grow into a "must-do" on the waka ama calendar and attract paddlers from all over country.
Saturday would have an emphasis on fun with a relay that promised to be a good spectacle because the handover was on land, forcing paddlers to run up the beach, as well as racing close to shore in midget, novice and intermediate divisions.
Sunday would be set aside for traditional waka displays and a challenging 25km race to Motuarohia Island and back called Te Taiawhio o Ipipiri. The race was founded 25 years ago by the late Kris Kjelsden but has not been held for the past 17 years.
Originally from California, Mr Kjelsden lived in Pawarenga for many years, where he helped establish waka ama as a sport in New Zealand. Later he lived in Tutukaka and built many of the waka raced in today.
Despite a six-month search, the location of the original Te Taiawhio o Ipipiri trophy was unknown, so Mr Dunn had carved a new one in the form of a hoe (paddle) along with four other trophies.
Waitangi waka ama founder Rob Cameron said the club, and kaumatua and kuia at Waitangi Marae, fully supported the regatta.
"We could see nothing but benefits. We hope it's going to be a stimulus for more involvement and more paddlers."
The sport had been in an introductory phase at Waitangi for a few years. Now it was time to step up to the next level with competitions and long-distance races, he said.
Mrs West said the festival had received funding from the Far North District Council's economic development fund but the aim was to make it an annual, self-sustaining event.
Seven clubs have confirmed they are taking part so far from Dargaville, Kaitaia, Russell, Tutukaka, Te Tii, Waitangi and Whangarei.
