Whangaroa raft race
Nineteen rafts of varying seaworthiness — ranging from bathtubs bolted together to streamlined vessels made from plastic pipes — took part in the Great Whangaroa Kiwi Can Raft Race on Saturday after a fortnight’s delay caused by Cyclone Pam. The annual race from Clansman’s Wharf to Whangaroa Marina is organised by education trust Kiwi Can with separate divisions for schools and community groups, though a band of pirates commandeered someone else’s raft rather than build their own. The always impressive setting was even more atmospheric this year with mist rising from the bush-clad hills as racing got underway. Participating schools were Bay of Islands International Academy, Hato Hohepa Te Kamura, Kaeo Primary, Kaingaroa, Mangonui, Oruaiti and Totara North. Photos by Peter de Graaf.
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