2026 Regional Secondary School Waka Ama Sprints

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The Hoe Tonga and College Sport Wellington Regional Secondary School Waka Ama Sprints are back for 2026! Following the success of the 2025 event held in Porirua, we are returning to Masterton to accommodate the growing number of participants.

New Grade – Novice J16

We are excited to announce the introduction of a J16 Novice division this year, to encourage the participation of junior secondary students who are new to Waka Ama and would like to give it a go. Teams entered into this division are permitted one non-paddling steerer to support their new paddlers. The J16 Novice division is not eligible for prizes as this is a participatory division.

Read through the pānui linked here for more details – Race information

  • Entries for this event are now open – all team entries must be completed by a school sports coordinator via the ‘SPORTY’ online entry system.
  • Entries close: Thursday 26 Feb, 11:59pm

Please note:

  • Thursday 26 February – Entries, team lists, and volunteers’ names are due
  • Friday 6 March – Waiver forms (page 12 of the pānui) must be filled out and emailed to hoetonga@gmail.com.  Hoe Tonga will NOT be printing out any waiver forms on event day.

This event is subject to sanctioning by Waka Ama NZ https://wakaama.co.nz/racecalendar/lookup/2363

Regional W12 teams

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Congratulations to the following paddlers who have qualified for the Hoe Tonga Regional Premier W12 teams!

These teams will compete in the W12 500m straight finals at the 2026 Waka Ama Sprint Nationals at Lake Karāpiro, on Thursday 15th January.

The Hoe Tonga Regional Premier Wāhine are in Race #352

The Hoe Tonga Regional Premier Tāne are in Race #354

Follow the link below to find the full race schedule for Sprint Nationals:

Our W12 selections are based on the results from the 2025 Hoe Tonga Regional Sprints held earlier this month, 6/7 December.

For more information on our selection criteria see the link below:

To view all Hoe Tonga W1 paddlers who qualified for the 2026 Sprint Nationals Quota rankings (this includes ALL divisions ranging from Intermediate right through to M80), see the link below:

Kia pai ai te tau hou Pākehā ki a koutou katoa 🌟

W1 Quota Rankings & Regional Sprints Results

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Thank you for your patience while we work through the W1 entries for our region. These are now available to view on the WANZ event page – 2026 Sprint Nationals – Waka Ama NZ.

The final results from all W6 & W1 races of the 2025 Hoe Tonga Regional Sprint Championships are linked below

2025 Regional Sprints Results – All Days

To view all Hoe Tonga W1 500m & 250m Dash Quota rankings for the 2026 Sprint Nationals (this includes ALL divisions ranging from Intermediate right through to M80), see the link below:

W1 Quota Rankings – 2026 Sprint Nationals

If your club members have made the Quota but are unable to attend the 2026 Sprint Nationals, please inform us asap at hoetonga@gmail.com so we can offer this place to those on the waitlist. 

The following quota spots were unfilled at the recent Hoe Tonga Regionals due to no entries being received or ineligible paddlers. Therefore, we are requesting nominations from clubs to fill these spots. The age divisions available are:

  • J19 Men 
  • J19 Women
  • Open 23 Men 
  • Open 23 Women
  • Premier Men 
  • Premier Women 
  • Senior Master Women
  • Golden Master Men  
  • Master Men 70
  • Master Women 70
  • Master Men 75
  • Master Women 75 
  • Master Men 80
  • Master Women 80  

All nominations must be received by midnight, Monday 15th December for the Board to consider selection.

Further to this, we have not received any Adaptive paddler entries for Nationals. If your club has any Adaptive paddlers who would like to compete, please send us their name and intended race/s so we can add them to the region’s entries. 

If you have any pātai, tēnā whakamōhio mai.

Ngā mihi nui

Hoe Tonga Sprint Regionals – A Stunning Day at Lake Henley

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Last Saturday, we gathered at Lake Henley for the 2025 Hoe Tonga Sprint Regionals
and what an incredible day it was!
We were thrilled by the huge turnout, especially from our taitamariki and
intermediates, who showed up in strong numbers and brought so much energy to the
event. The weather couldn’t have been better, creating the perfect backdrop for a full
day of paddling, teamwork, and whanaungatanga.
One of the most beautiful parts of the day was seeing so many whānau lining the
banks, cheering, supporting, and, in some cases, jumping into the waka themselves.
The atmosphere was buzzing with pride, encouragement, and the shared joy of
being out on the water together.
I’d also like to acknowledge our amazing volunteers; Chris on the start line, Marinna
and her team on the finish line, the Rimene whānau covering one of the safety boats,
alongside Jeff and Jack with the flags on the other boat, Selena on registration and
Michael in the loading area. These events simply wouldn’t happen without your hard
mahi and commitment.
A big mihi to our Race Director, Matai, for leading both days with expertise and calm.
To our Events Coordinator, Jasmine, who completed her first regionals — ka rawe,
big ups to you! And to our other Board members, James and Ani, thank you for being
present both days, chipping in where needed and supporting the kaupapa.
We know that a huge amount of planning happens well before race day, so when
everything runs smoothly and our paddlers and whānau have such a positive
experience, it is something truly special.
“He waka eke noa — we are all in this waka together.”

We can’t wait to see everyone at Nationals

Mauri ora
Anita Taggart
Chairperson

Entries Close Āpōpō & Volunteers Still Required

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Friendly reminder that entries for the regional sprints close tomorrow⏳

Please ensure your club has finalised all entries by 11.59pm on Friday 28th November 2025, as we will not be accepting any late entries.

Tēnā rawa atu ki a koutou nō Hikoikoi Waka Club, Mana Pasifika Outrigger Canoe Club, Wairarapa Waka Ama Canoe Club, Kōkiri Marae Tai Patu Waka Ama, Tai Tonga 41 Outrigger Canoe Club, PCKC, Ratana Paa Kaihoe Trust, Hawaikinui Tuarua Waka Ama Club and Ōtaki Waka Hoe for responding to the tono for volunteers.

We are still taking applications of interest for volunteers in some key roles and would like to share the load across all clubs. Nō reira, we encourage those from River City Waka Ama Club, Te Au ki Te Tonga Waka Sport, Te Ringa Miti Tai Heke Whangnaui Waka Ama Club, Tai Awa Waka Ama Manatōpū to spread the word within your clubs to register as a volunteer.

Interested members can complete the volunteer registration form linked here https://forms.gle/DgVPdetE2vk7fcyy6

We will also be asking for help on the day if we aren’t able to fill all required roles.

Te Hau o Matariki – Waka Hourua Invitation from Ngāti Toa Rangatira

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Hoe Tonga are proud to support this kaupapa run by Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira ❤️

Message from the iwi as follows:

“Join us in welcoming Te Hau o Matariki, our waka hourua, as she arrives in Porirua. This is a special occasion for our iwi and hāpori to come together to celebrate our connection to the moana, our mātauranga Māori, and the enduring spirit of navigation that guides us today.

We especially invite our local waka ama clubs to take part in the procession as Te Hau o Matariki makes her way into Porirua Harbour.

Event Details:

📍 Ngāti Toa Domain (formalities)

📅 Sunday 23 November, 11am–1pm (expect her to start making her way in around 12 pm and on the beach by 12.30)

Te Hau o Matariki will be welcomed into Ngāti Toa Domain with haka pōwhiri from our local kura and Rarotongan drumming community. A formal pōwhiri will then take place in front of the Ngāti Toa Sea Scout building, supported by Ngāti Toa kaumatua and iwi members.

The Rūnanga are happy to work with anyone available to help coordinate the waka fleet alongside the crew on Te Hau o Matariki.

If your club would like to tautoko this event in your waka, RSVP to communications@ngatitoa.iwi.nz so the iwi can confirm numbers of kaihoe and waka out on the moana.

There is the option for waka ama to launch from Onepoto, paddle to the Domain, and return afterward, helping to reduce pressure on parking and grounds at Ngāti Toa Domain. Please ensure your waka keeps to the sides/behind Te Hau o Matariki.

We look forward to celebrating our waka ama community, especially those who have dedicated years to this kaupapa.”

Kaitūao/Volunteers needed for Regional Sprint Champs 2025

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Kia ora e te whānau

The countdown is on for the regional event that could kick-start some of our paddlers’ haerenga to the 2026 World Sprint Champs in Singapore 🇸🇬 To bring this to life we need you!!

We need your passion, your energy and your talents to help us make the 2025 Regionals a resounding success 🌟

We are seeking enthusiastic kaitūao/volunteers to help us with various aspects of this regional event 🫱🏽‍🫲🏻 No previous experience is required, just your desire to be part of an event for those who are striving to be the best they can be.

If you would like to tautoko as a volunteer, register your interest here ➡️https://forms.gle/JSisq7KMjjarH7dC8 by Monday 24th November.

Hoe Tonga Pacifica Regional Sprint Champs 2025 – Entries now open!

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Kia ora e te whānau

Ngā mihi o te marama hou ki a koutou.

We are pleased to announce entries are now open for the 2025 Hoe Tonga Pacifica Regional Sprint Champs in December. This event will be held at Henley Lake in Masterton, with W6 races taking place on Saturday 6th and W1 races on Sunday 7th.

Club coordinators can process entries online in the Members Area of the Waka Ama NZ website. All kaihoe must be affiliated to their club and Waka Ama NZ for the 2026 season in order to enter. All entries close on Friday 28 November at 11.59pm.

Friendly reminder that the 2026 National Sprints are the qualifiers for the 2026 World Sprints in Singapore, and the opportunity to enter team intentions closes on 21 November. More information can be found on the Waka Ama NZ website, linked here 2026 World Sprint Champs.

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

Mauri ora