Waka ama: Northland schools at champs

Seven Northland schools are represented at the National Secondary Schools Waka Ama Championships in Rotorua this week.

A record number of 482 teams from 90 schools around the country are battling it out on the water at the Blue Lake.

More than 1500 students are expected to line up in various boat classes in the Under 19 and Under 16 divisions.

Lara Collins, Chief Executive of Waka Ama New Zealand, said despite only being around for 12 years, the Waka Ama Championships had grown into one of the largest Secondary School sports events in New Zealand - second only to the Maadi Cup.

"The atmosphere at all our race meets are electric - the paddlers are all very competitive but everyone definitely has a lot of fun too. We get a real buzz out of hosting these Championships and I can't wait to see who will take out this year's honours," Collins said.

Schools will compete for national honours in one, six or twelve paddler teams over distances of 250 and 500m metres.

The Northland schools competing in Rotorua are: Te Rangi Aniwaniwa (Kaitaia), Kaitaia College, Taipa Area School, Te Kura Kaupapa o Maori o te Tonga O Hokianga (Hokianga), Tikipunga High School, Bay of Islands College and Kerikeri High School.