Rotorua is hosting the National Secondary School Waka Ama Championships this week. Photo / Supplied
More than 1950 students from 123 schools will take to the water in Rotorua this week for the 2019 National Secondary School Waka Ama Championships.
The number of students competing this year has grown by 200. For the first time more than 120 schools will take part from the far north to the top of the South Island.
Now in their 18th year, the championships are being held from Tuesday to Friday at Rotorua's Tikitapu (Blue Lake).
Waka Ama New Zealand chief executive Lara Collins said the event had gone from strength to strength each year of its 18-year history, with 2019 set to be "the biggest and best yet".
"Each year, the waka ama participation base keeps growing. Having been at all 18 events, since the first one in 2002, I've watched the event grow and we now have teachers who were once students paddling, getting their schools involved. It's awesome to witness such growth.
"It's wonderfully unique and exciting for spectators too. Tikitapu - Blue Lake, is usually a serene and tranquil spot, but when the championships descend, it turns into a place of energy and excitement with cheers ringing from the lakeside and the most stunning backdrop anyone could ask for."
Asked why there had been so much growth, Collins said: "It is a sport that anyone can take part in, and kids really love it.
"They get to represent their school through competition, be active and learn teamwork and many other skills both on and off the water. Lots of teams will be products of their local clubs or whānau who take part in the sport.
"Whether teams are competitive or just taking part to have fun, there is something for everyone."
For the ninth consecutive year College de Pao Pao are travelling from Moorea, Tahiti, to compete as an international contingent. They are bringing an under-16 boys team and two under-16 girls teams.
Schools are competing for national honours in one (W1), six (W6) and 12 paddler (W12) teams over distances of 250m and 500m.
Teams competing in the six-person 500m classes will also have to navigate their way through a hairpin turn at the halfway mark.
The event is hosted by Te Waiariki Purea Trust which has hosted the championships with Waka Ama New Zealand since 2005.
Trust CEO Laurie Durand said they always looked forward to the event.
"The trust is excited and very proud to support the growth of waka ama especially for Rangatahi."
This year the event will be a part of the Rotorua Waka Festival with a Kapa Haka Super 6 competition being held on Thursday at Te Manawa in Central Rotorua for the school waka ama teams to take part in.
Also, the Hoea ki Mokoia event on Saturday has included a secondary school section of a race that sees paddle around iconic Mokoia Island from the Rotorua Lake front.
- Supplied content
2019 Entries by Event
U16 Boys - W1 250m: 47
U16 Boys - W6 250m: 66
U16 Boys - W6 500m: 63
U16 Girls - W1 250m: 51
U16 Girls - W6 250m: 80
U16 Girls - W6 500m: 79
U16 Mixed - WT12 250m: 43
U19 Boys - W1 250m: 31
U19 Boys - W6 250m: 62
U19 Boys - W6 500m: 62
U19 Girls - W1 250m: 25
U19 Girls - W6 250m: 82
U19 Girls - W6 500m: 81
U19 Mixed - WT12 250m: 57
Secondary Schools Attending National Championships
Alfriston College, Aorere College, Aotea College, Auckland Girls Grammar School, College de PAO PAO (Tahiti), Cullinane College, Dargaville High School, De La Salle College, Epsom Girls Grammar School, Fairfield College, Francis Douglas Memorial College, Fraser High School, Gisborne Boys High School, Gisborne Girls High School, Hamilton Boys High School, Hamilton Girls High School, Hastings Boys High School, Hauraki Plains College, Hukarere Girls' College, Huntly College, James Cook High School, John Paul College, Kaipara College, Kaitaia College, Lytton High School, Makoura College, Mana College, Manukura, Manurewa High School, McAuley High School, Middle School West Auckland, Motueka High School, Mt Albert Grammar School, Napier Boys High School, Napier Girls High School, New Plymouth Girls' High School, Nga Taiatea Wharekura, Ngaruawahia High School, Okaihau College, Opononi Area School, Otahuhu College, Otaki College, Papatoetoe High School, Pukekohe High School, Raglan Area School, Rongotai College, Rosmini College, Rotorua Boys' High School, Rotorua Girls' High School, Rotorua Lakes High School, Ruapehu College, Rutherford College, Sacred Heart College (Napier), Sacred Heart Girls' College (Hamilton), Sacred Heart Girls' College (New Plymouth), Solway College, St Cuthbert's College, St John's College, St John's College (Hastings), St Joseph's Maori Girls' College, St Mary's College, St Mary's College (Auckland), St Patrick's College, Silverstream, St Patrick's College, Town, Tai Wananga, Tamatea High School, Taradale High School, Taupo Nui-a-tia College, Tauranga Boys' College, Tauranga Girls' College, Tawa College, Te Aratika Academy, Te Aute College, Te Kapehu Whetu, Te Kauwhata College, Te Kopuku High, Te Kuiti High School, Te Kura a Iwi o Whakatupuranga Rua Mano, TKK Maori Hoani Waititi Marae, TKK Maori o Horouta Wananga, TKK Maori o Kaikohe, TKK Maori o Nga Uri a Maui, TKK Maori o Ngati Kahungunu o Te Wairoa, TKK Maori o Pukemiro, TKK Maori o Te Ara Hou, TKK Maori o Te Ara Whanui, TKK Maori o Te Koutu, TKK Maori o Te Orini ki Ngati Awa, TKK Maori o Te Rito, TKK Maori o te Tonga O Hokianga, TKK Maori o Tupoho, TKK Maori o Whakarewa I Te Reo ki Tuwharetoa, TKK o Hawaiki Hou, TKK o Huiarau, TKK o Ruamata, Te Kura Maori o Porirua, Te Kura o Kokohuia, Te Kura O Ngati Rongomai, Te Kura o Te Whanau a Apanui, Te Kura Taumata o Panguru, Te Piipiinga Kakano mai i Rangiatea KKM, Te Rangi Aniwaniwa, Te Wharekura o Maniapoto, Te Wharekura o Mauao, Te Wharekura O Rakaumangamanga, TKKM o Te Waiu o Ngati Porou, TKKM o Whangaroa, Tolaga Bay Area School Kuranui, Trident High School, Tuakau College, Waiopehu College, Wairarapa College, Waitara High School, Waiuku College, Wellington East Girls' College, Wellington High School, Western Heights High School (Rotorua), Western Springs College, Westlake Boys High School, Whakatane High School, Whanganui City College, Whanganui Girls' College, Whangarei Girls' High School.