Another 200 students will take part in the annual National Secondary School Waka Ama Championship this year, with over 1950 students from 123 schools from around the country set to compete.

Tomorrow the 18th championship will commence at Tikitapu-Blue Lake in Rotorua.

2019 will mark the biggest year yet, an event that’s growing from strength to strength says Waka Ama New Zealand Chief Executive Lara Collins.

“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” she says.

An international contingent will make their way to NZ to attend the event, including College de Pao Pao, who will travel from Moorea, Tahiti for the 9th consecutive time.  This year they will bring one U16 Boys team and two U16 Girls teams.

Schools are competing for national honours in one (W1), six (W6) and twelve-paddler (W12) teams over distances of 250 and 500 metres.  Teams competing in the six-person 500m classes will also have to navigate their way through a hairpin turn at the halfway mark.

This year the event will be a part of the Rotorua Waka Festival with a Kapa Haka Super 6 competition is being held Thursday 28th March at Te Manawa in Central Rotorua for the School Waka Ama teams to take part in.  Also, the Hoea ki Mokoia event on 30 March 2019 has included a secondary school section of a race that sees paddle around iconic Mokoia island from the Rotorua lakefront

SECONDARY SCHOOLS ATTENDING 2019 WAKA AMA CHAMPS: