Entries Open – 2026 Hoe Tonga Pacifica Waka Ama Association Regional Sprint Champs

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We are pleased to announce entries are now open for the 2026 Hoe Tonga Pacifica Regional Sprint Champs. This event will be held at Henley Lake in Masterton, with W6 races taking place on Saturday 5th and W1 races on Sunday 6th December.

Club coordinators can process entries online in the Members Area of the Waka Ama NZ website. All kaihoe must be affiliated and verified members of their club and Waka Ama NZ for the 2026-2027 season in order to be entered. All entries close on Friday 27 November at 11.59pm.

Volunteer Registration Form: The rapid growth of our regional sprints event relies heavily on the efforts of our incredible waka ama community. Kaitūao get the chance to experience first-hand the mahi involved in running a large-scale event and take their new skills back to their clubs. Each club is required to register two volunteers to support the event, although anyone who is keen to tautoko can sign up!

2027 Sprint Nationals Entries: If your club intends on competing at Lake Karapiro next year, you must get your entries submitted by Sunday 22 November 11:59pm. (Those that qualify for the Hoe Tonga W1 quota and W12 will be entered upon completion of our regional sprints event, and are unaffected by this date)

Safety Notice for W1 / OC1 waka: In accordance with the new NZ national maritime law introduced on October 9, 2026, all waka used to compete in this event must be measured beforehand to ensure full safety compliance. All paddlers using a waka that measures 6 metres or under from ihu to kei (bow to stern), is required by law to wear a properly fitted lifejacket or PFD at all times while racing. No exceptions.

If you have any pātai, send them through to hoetonga@gmail.com

2026 Winter Paddler Series – Race 5

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Introducing our hosts for the fifth and final race of the 2026 Hoe Tonga Winter Paddler Series – Ratana Pā!

Bring your confidence, knowledge and experience to paddle from the unique estuary and river mouth towards the challenging West coast waters and bar crossing environment.

  • 🗓 Saturday 12 September 2026
  • Sunday 13 September 2026 (postponement date)
  • 📍1 Wharf Street Castlecliff, Whanganui
  • ➡️ 8km short course
  • ⏩ 16km long course
  • 🛶 W1, W2, W6
  • ✅ Open, Master, Senior Master, Golden Master divisions
  • ❎ Entries Close: Monday 7th September 2026 at 11:59pm

H​oe Tonga Winter Series 5 – Te Wahapū o Whanganui (Sanctioned) – Waka Ama Aotearoa NZ Inc

Nau mai, haere mai ki Te Wahapū o Whanganui – te wāhi e tūtaki ai te awa me te moana, hei whakanui i te māia, te haumaru me te wairua o te hoe 🌊

2026 Winter Paddler Series – Race 4

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Hei aha te makariri, whakamahana tō tinana i te reihi tuawhā ki Ākau Tangi! ❄ Entries are open for the fourth race of the Hoe Tonga winter series, proudly hosted by Tai Tonga 41 Waka Ama Outrigger Canoe Club.

  • 🗓 Saturday 29 August 2026
  • 📍Evans Bay, Wellington
  • ➡️ 8km short course
  • ⏩ 16km long course
  • 🛶 W1, W2, W4, W6 & W12
  • ✅ J16, J19, Novice, Open, Master, Senior Master, Golden Master divisions
  • ❎ Entries Close: Tuesday 25th August 2026 at 11:59pm

https://www.wakaama.co.nz/racecalendar/lookup/2473

AkzoNobel Raffle

Kia ora e te whānau, we’ve got something pretty special lined up for Race 4 of the Hoe Tonga Winter Series on 29 August at Evans Bay — thanks to the awesome support of AkzoNobel. A massive raffle prize valued up to $1,000

  • The winner will receive up to $1,000 worth of International Paints / AkzoNobel yacht, marine, or protective coatings — primers, fillers, epoxies, undercoats, finish coats… everything you need to keep your club’s (or your) waka or your yacht in peak condition, or to bring an older vessel back to life.
  • Raffle Details
    $15 per ticket OR grab 2 for $20 – Only 100 tickets available
    Anyone can enter — individuals, clubs, supporters, yachties, whānau
    Drawn live at Evans Bay after racing on 29 August
  • How to Purchase
    To purchase a ticket, either:
    Fill out the Google Form — one ticket per form submission. If you want more than one ticket, simply fill it out again.
  • Google Form: https://forms.gle/LS4kzxSqs2Ht7Jza6 OR message us directly via the TT41 Facebook page.
  • Once you’ve submitted the form or messaged us, make payment to confirm your entry: Tai Tonga 41 Outrigging Club 38-9011-0013609-00
  • Where Your Support Goes
    Every dollar raised goes straight back into our kaupapa — improving our club gear, looking after our waka, upgrading the equipment we use for our paddlers, and supporting the community members who come to try out waka with us

Singapore IVF Va’a World Sprint Championships 2026

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E whakamānawa atu mātou ki te hunga e haere ana ki Hingapoa mō te Whakataetae Waka Ama o te Ao!

Hoe Tonga acknowledge our incredible regional clubs and kaihoe alongside the Aotearoa W1 representatives and W6 teams competing in the Singapore IVF Va’a World Sprint Championships 2026! 🚣‍♂️🇸🇬

Day 1 of racing begins āpōpō, Thursday 20 August. Stay up to date and watch the official livestreams linked below:

📣 Follow the club/team pages for direct updates on their worlds campaign:

RESULTS – Winter Series Race 3

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Results for Race 3 are now live.

Race 1 (short course)
https://www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=442008&fbclid=IwY2xjawTbUcJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE1a0ZiVzBYVFRzYzRxTmpRc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPNTE0NzcxNTY5MjI4MDYxAAEeO5ASMHfXTTyDSYt3wQYDEC8EnPZryCEGEzE8dFVYu3R4F8lra4T5G2AkNOs_aem_onVPB-6vrJhuIIpurYGtxw

Race 2 (long course)
https://www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=442048&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPNDM3NjI2MzE2OTczNzg4AAEe6u_KWRr3jW24KOvee-ONB8uDpcWXntGa9DKYTTmVF_ywHRFmDjiGpEyRK3g_aem_ZmFrZWR1bW15MTZieXRlcw

UPDATE – Race 3 postponed

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Due to the impending unfavourable weather coming into Wellington, PCKC have postponed Saturday’s racing until Sunday 2nd August.

All current entries remain valid for the change to Sunday. If you need to make changes for your club, the WAANZ online entry system has been re-opened until midnight today to change/withdraw teams. https://www.wakaama.co.nz/racecalendar/lookup/2459

2026 Winter Paddler Series – Race 3

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Nau piki mai ki te reihi tuatoru! Entries are open for the third race of the Hoe Tonga winter series, hosted by Porirua Canoe Kayak Club – PCKC. Get your crew together to celebrate the grit of winter racing in the home waters of PCKC at its best!

  • 🗓 Saturday 1 August 2026
  • 📍Onepoto, Porirua
  • ➡️ 8-10km short course
  • ⏩ 16-20km long course
  • 🛶 W1, W2, W3, W4, W6 & W12
  • ✅ J16, J19, Novice, Open, Master, Senior Master, Golden Master divisions
  • ❎ Entries Close: Tuesday 28th July 2026 at 11:59pm

To view ALL race-course options and site map for the venue, read through the information in pānui 2 linked below or the WAANZ event page https://www.wakaama.co.nz/racecalendar/lookup/2459

We look forward to seeing you all at the third event ❄️

20260722 – Panui 2Download

Tai Awa Waka Ama – Te Awa Tupua race 2026

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Calling all W1 paddlers – entries are open for the first event hosted by Tai Awa Waka Ama to celebrate their one-year anniversary as a club. Head along to experience the beauty and mana of Te Awa Tupua.

  • 🗓 Saturday 25 July 2026
  • 📍 Te Ao Hou Marae, Whanganui
  • ➡️ 6km short course
  • ⏩ 10 & 16km long courses
  • 🛶 W1 only
  • ✅ J16, J19, Novice, Open, Master, Senior Master, Golden Master, 70+ & Adaptive divisions
  • ❎ Entries Close: Tuesday 21st July 2026 at 11:59pm

https://www.wakaama.co.nz/racecalendar/lookup/2432