Whanganui Chronicle
  • Whanganui Chronicle home
  • Latest news
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Sport
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology

Locations

  • Taranaki
  • National Park
  • Whakapapa
  • Ohakune
  • Raetihi
  • Taihape
  • Marton
  • Feilding
  • Palmerston North

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • New Plymouth
  • Whanganui
  • Palmertson North
  • Levin

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Whanganui Chronicle / Sport

Kiwis head off tough rivals

By Waka Ama Jared Smith
Whanganui Chronicle·
20 May, 2016 09:00 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

FAMILY MEDALS: Anne and Daniel Kauika with their prizes from the Vaa World Sprints on the Sunshine Coast this month.PHOTO/STUART MUNRO

FAMILY MEDALS: Anne and Daniel Kauika with their prizes from the Vaa World Sprints on the Sunshine Coast this month.PHOTO/STUART MUNRO

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

It was medals a-plenty for Whanganui's mother and son waka ama competitors Anne and Daniel Kauika at the Vaa World Sprints on Queensland's Sunshine Coast in the past week.

The Te Ringa Miti Tai Heke Whanganui club members were among the 500 New Zealanders who joined 2200 competitors taking part in the world championships on Lake Kawana.

Teenager Daniel Kauika, along with ex-pat Whanganui paddler Te Teira Wiari, were part of the seven-man New Zealand Junior Under 19 squad in the elite competitions.

They won silver in the 1000m race and bronze in the 500m sprint.

Mother Anne Kauika raced for Ruamata Go Aotearoa in the club championships, and their Masters crew cleaned up with gold in the V12 500m, V6 500m and V6 1000m, with their finishing time in the latter being a world record 5m 23.63s.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

There were 25 countries represented overall, with the New Zealanders' toughest opposition being unquestionably the Tahitians.

"It's their national sport, some of them more elite paddlers are paid like our All Blacks are," said Anne.

"They're born and raised in a waka," added Daniel.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Conditions for racing from May 8 to 15 were breezy but flat on the lake, with the warm temperatures a challenge for the Kiwis.

Overall, New Zealand won the combined competition with 30 gold medals, 27 silver and 22 bronze, just ahead of Tahiti, and set 28 new records.

"This is the first time ever, we won the medal tally," said Anne.

"They won't want to see that happen again," she added, in reference to Tahiti who will host the 2017 Long Distance World Championships.

As well as the action on the water, there was a cultural night held on May 13 where the New Zealanders impressed with their own special haka, which incorporated their paddles.

Both the Kauikas had to travel long distances to train with their crews in the build-up to the World Sprints - Daniel going away every second weekend to all parts of the North Island, while Anne met up with her Masters team mates in Rotorua.

They will now start working towards the Long Distance Nationals in September, before the Sprint Nationals in January. For Anne Kauika, there will be the World Masters Games next April, then the Long Distance World Championships.

The Kauika's wanted to thank everyone who helped them get to Australia, including their Whanganui club, Ngaporo Waimarino Forest Trust, Whanganui Maori Sports, Future Champions Trust, Inspire Health & Fitness, and Paula Mosen of Divine Massage & Healing.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Sport

Sport

Rugby: Tough preseason ahead for Steelform Whanganui

Sport

Rugby: Marist Clovers reclaim title with dominant win

Whanganui Chronicle

Endurance ace ready for 'Wimbledon' of trail running


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

Rugby: Tough preseason ahead for Steelform Whanganui
Sport

Rugby: Tough preseason ahead for Steelform Whanganui

Whanganui face former All Blacks in their preseason Classics game.

17 Jul 05:00 PM
Rugby: Marist Clovers reclaim title with dominant win
Sport

Rugby: Marist Clovers reclaim title with dominant win

17 Jul 05:00 PM
Endurance ace ready for 'Wimbledon' of trail running
Whanganui Chronicle

Endurance ace ready for 'Wimbledon' of trail running

15 Jul 05:00 PM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Whanganui Chronicle e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Whanganui Chronicle
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • NZME Events
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP