Photos: Rafting fun at Whangaroa

The Kaeo Hunters, from Kaeo Primary School, storm to victory in the schools division. Pphoto / Peter de Graaf

More than a dozen ingenious home-built rafts of varying seaworthiness competed in the Great Whangaroa Kiwi Can Raft Race on Saturday. The annual event is organised by Kiwi Can, a life skills programme taught in nine Far North schools. The race sees makeshift vessels race from Clansman's Wharf to Whangaroa jetty.

This year adventurer and Kiwi Can founder Sir Graeme Dingle and his partner Jo-anne Wilkinson were special guests. Photos by Peter de Graaf.

RESULTS:

Schools division

1 Kāeo Hunters, Kāeo School; 2 Golden Kiwis, Oruaiti School; 3 Turbo Turtles, Te Kura o Hato Hohepa Te Kamura; 4 Submarines, Mangonui School; 5 Oruaiti 1, Oruaiti School. Best flag: Kāeo School; most creative: Oruaiti 1; best team spirit: Mangonui School; hard luck: Totara North School (capsized after getting into a tangle with another raft).

Community division

1 Moana 1; 2 Save My Bacon; 3 Moana 2. Most creative: Just A Plumber; best team spirit: Whangaroa Health Services Trust.

Oruaiti School's Golden Kiwis place second after a tight battle with Te Kura o Hato Hohepa Te Kamura.

Mangonui School's Submarines - paddling what Sir Graeme Dingle described as a barn door - grab fourth place just ahead of Oruaiti 1.

Whangaroa Coastguard volunteers made sure no teams, including Moana 1 (left) and Save My Bacon, reached the finish line dry.

The Kāeo Hunters, from Kāeo Primary School, celebrate their win in the schools division.

Whangaroa Coastguard gives Mangonui School's Submarines a soaking.

The Moana 1 crew storms to first place in the community division.

Kāeo girls Lexus Hayes, 13, left, and Marama Lenden, 10, take a dip.

A water fight breaks out between Oruaiti 1 and Mangonui School's Submarines.

The crew of Oruaiti 1 finished last but took home the best team spirit award.

It is a little-known nautical fact that wearing onesies makes your raft go faster.

The Whangaroa Health Services Trust raft finished last by a good margin, but they did win the team spirit award.

Kiwi Can's Jeremy Suleski gets the rubber duck race started. Photo / Peter de Graaf

Adventurer and Kiwi Can founder Sir Graeme Dingle was the guest of honour at Saturday's raft race.

The winning school team, the Kāeo Hunters from Kāeo School, with their trophy, Kiwi Can staff and adventurer and Kiwi Can founder Sir Graeme Dingle.