Toa Waka Ama out in force
Ngāti Toa rangatahi from the Toa Waka Ama Club were out in force at the Hoe Tonga Regional Sprint Champs held at Lake Henley in Masterton. This regatta also serves as a qualifier for the Waka Ama Sprint National to be held at Lake Karāpiro in January 2026.
This year, Toa Waka Ama fielded an impressive 11 teams and 69 paddlers, with ages ranging from 6 to 58 years old. For many of our paddlers, this was their first-ever taste of competition.
Photo supplied by Ivy Elkington
Our goal was to gain valuable competition experience, test new line-ups, and most importantly, give our first timers the chance to get out on the water, have a go, and enjoy the wairua of the day.
Despite being newcomers, the majority of our teams made their finals, and we proudly came away with seven gold medals and three silvers, a massive achievement that reflects the hard work, heart, and commitment of our paddlers and coaches.
A huge mihi to Aunty Raylene and Nuku Ora for their incredible support, including funding our new waka trailer and gazebos. Big thanks also to our whānau, especially those parents who were “voluntold” as team managers, the TOA Waka Ama committee and coaches for holding it down all weekend.
The highlights were watching our tamariki paddle alongside their cousins and friends, seeing their faces light up as they received their medals, and witnessing parents jump in to steer for our youngest crews. A special standout moment was seeing two of our eight-year-old paddlers stepping up to steer their own teams, a powerful testament to the confidence and skills our tamariki are building through waka ama.
Photo supplied by Ivy Elkington
Waka ama continues to be a kaupapa that grows confidence, resilience, leadership and whanaungatanga. It strengthens cultural identity, supports physical and mental wellbeing, and keeps our whānau connected to the wai, to each other, and to the values of Ngāti Toa.
He hari, he whakahīhī, he toa, our paddlers truly embodied the spirit of our iwi, and we couldn’t be prouder.