Over 3000 paddlers have descended on Lake Karapiro for the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals. It’s the biggest crowd the competition has seen since its inception in 1989.
The biggest club competing this year is Hamilton’s Te Toki with over 200 paddlers. The head of the club, and waka expert, Hoturoa Kerr discusses the growth and popularity of the sport.
For more information about our Fees Free Certificate in Waka Ama click here
24 November 2025
Lizzie Dunn created Te Arawhata to help people reconnect with te ao Māori through media, resources, and kōrero. Discover how her reo journey and passion for sharing knowledge are inspiring thousands to embrace Māoritanga and strengthen cultural connections.
19 November 2025
Alex Maddox is turning her lived experience as a māmā into a powerful Rangahau kaupapa through He Waka Hiringa at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. Discover how her vision aims to amplify whānau voices in research and policy for tamariki with vision impairments.
11 November 2025
Dr Tara McAllister of Te Wānanga o Aotearoa has been awarded the prestigious Mana Tūāpapa Future Leader Fellowship from Royal Society Te Apārangi. Discover how her research will transform Indigenous science, strengthen mātauranga Māori, and advance equity in Aotearoa’s research sector.
29 October 2025
Yumi’s muka kākahu beautifully blends Māori and Japanese culture through raranga. Discover her inspiring journey with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, from Kāwai Raupapa to Maunga Kura Toi, and how weaving has connected her to people, tikanga, and identity.
