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National | Tahiti

Huge success for NZ women at Va'a World Sprint Champs

There were tears of joy shed with NZ women paddlers humbled with the results of their final races.

Our J16 Women seem to be the heroes of this whole competition - 1st, 2nd and 3rd in their division.

Te Paerangi J19s,  Horouta J16s and Masters 40s, and Ngāti Rēhia Masters 70s have all won gold for Aotearoa.

Puhi Kaiariki from Horouta Waka Hoe were the first World Champions in Day 7, winning their Junior 16 Women's W6 1000m final.

Puhi Kaiariki from Horouta Waka Hoe are our first World Champions in Day 7 at the #WakaAmaWorlds2018 winning their Junior 16 Women’s w6 1000m final by 12 seconds with a time of 5:12.05

Posted by Te Ao Māori News on Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Tiare Māori from Te Paerangi won gold in the Junior 19 Women's V6 1000m division.

Tiare Māori from Te Paerangi are our Junior 19 women’s gold medalists in the V6 1000m section at the #WakaAmaWorlds2018. The girls lead most of the race and won by 14 seconds with a time of 5:12.66

Posted by Te Ao Māori News on Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Ngā Kopara Toa from Horouta Waka Hoe also told the gold in the V6 1000m Master 40 women's division.

Another race and another gold for NZ! This time in the V6 1000m Master 40 women’s section at the #WakaAmaWorlds2018 Ngā Kopara Toa from Horouta Waka Hoe are our Gold Medal champions!

Posted by Te Ao Māori News on Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Ngāti Rēhia Master 60 Women's V6 1000m representing Te Tai Tokerau also won gold this morning.

Team Taitokerau from Ngāti Rēhia are our Master 60 women’s V6 1000m winners! Claiming gold by 7 seconds with a time of 5:49.07 at the #WakaAmaWorlds2018

Posted by Te Ao Māori News on Wednesday, July 25, 2018

However, that success was barely reflected across in the men's finals as the stronger Tahiti teams dominated across the board.

The Parihaka Master 70 team taking the only men's gold for Aotearoa this morning!

They’ve done it! Age ain’t nothing but a number for these Master 70 men from Parihaka Waka Ama. They’ve just won gold in their section! World champions e te iwi at the #WakaAmaWorlds2018

Posted by Te Ao Māori News on Wednesday, July 25, 2018

There are still 500m races left, perhaps the shorter distances will help the NZ teams edge ahead.