New Zealand whitewater women world champions show their class.
New Zealanders have come up with the money to allow the country's women whitewater rafting world champions to defend their title next month.
Ten days ago, the four-time world champs had almost given up hope of competing at the sport's main event in Ecuador because of a lack of sponsorship.
But publicity on television and radio and an article in the Herald has resulted in $20,000 in donations flooding in to help the six-woman team.
About half the money has come from individuals, including $2000 from a retired South Island farmer, and the other half from Auckland-based charity the Friedlander Foundation.
"It feels like we've got New Zealand behind us," said Nikki Kelly, one of four Rotorua-based team members.
The 30-year-old, who is also a world-renowned extreme kayaker, was part of the country's first female rafting team to compete at the world champs in 1999.
The team has won the event for the past four years.
But funding has been a constant struggle, something Ms Kelly puts down to rafting being a minority sport here. The team needs a minimum of $24,000 to take part this year.
The Rotorua women - Ms Kelly, Denise "Buba" Martin, Sarah Uhl and Kelly Wood - have been joined by "new blood" in Aucklanders Bernie Murch and Heidie Verhagen, whose backgrounds are in outrigger canoeing.
"This is the best team I believe we've had," Ms Kelly said.
The women leave for Ecuador on October 5 and spend six days preparing for the four-day competition.
