Thumbs up for Aratika Maniapoto, from left Mia Wehi, Rangi Mulligan-Green, Corey Stephens, Erina Wehi-Barton, Amiria Wehi, Nana Pungee, Dane Muraahi and whānau behind them.
Erina Wehi-Barton is excited about the prospects of a growth in waka ama involvement following a record entry of King Country paddlers competing in the national champs at Lake Karāpiro this week.
Nine teams from the Maniapoto branch of the Aratika Water Sports Club club – up from three last year – were lakeside.
“It’s the intensity now. All the kids want to paddle,” said Wehi-Barton whose iwi affiliations are Ngāti Rereahu – Maniapoto – Waikato – Rarua – Tūwharetoa – Te Atiawa.
The club has 56 paddlers with the youngest – Parakau Mulligan-Green, 6, of Te Kūiti – making his debut on Sunday after a pōwhiri from Ngāti Korokī Kahukura and Ngāti Hauā iwi.
The lack of suitable training facilities in Te Kūiti does not hamper members – they head west to Awakino instead and rely on iwi and whānau for ongoing support.
Last year the younger members of the club went to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands to compete and came home with six gold, three silver and six bronze medals.
“Waka ama caters for the entire whānau – from babies, siblings, kaumatua, everyone,” said Wehi-Barton, a mātauranga (traditional) researcher who has spent the last 10 years establishing rangatahi/whānau initiatives and observing the behaviours of awa and tuna.
Her doctorate studies are focusing on the economic benefits of using her knowledge of the moon phases and soil for the betterment of her people.
Meanwhile a woman described as the “queen of waka ama” was honoured during an emotional pōwhiri at the start of the week-long sprint championships at Lake Karāpiro on Sunday.
Members of Kiwi Campbell’s whānau including people from Waipā, Waikato and King Country were present as several speakers recalled the Gisborne woman’s contribution to the sport.
Campbell, 43, a competitor, coach and administrator from the Horouta Waka Hoe Club – and a regular visitor to Karāpiro – died last November.
Four years ago, the mother of two boys Mairangi and Maia, and wife of Bruce Campbell, was inducted into Waka Ama New Zealand’s virtual hall of fame for her outstanding contribution to the sport.
With a spine-tingling call, fellow club member Cynthia Sidney led the visiting teams towards Ngāti Korokī Kahukura and Ngāti Hauā iwi, waka ama officials and local competitors.
Just over two hours later, the Tamariki pools got underway highlighting the phenomenal growth of waka ama since Mareikura, the first club in New Zealand, was established in Gisborne in 1985 followed five years later by the first national outrigger canoe paddling champs at Karāpiro.
A record 3868 competitors and twice as many spectators are at the lake all week and more than 1400 of them are aged 13 years and under.
Competitors have come from throughout New Zealand with internationals from Fiji, Tonga, Cook Islands, United Kingdom and Australia.
Campbell’s aunty Liz Reedy of Hamilton said her niece’s death came as a shock to her whānau. Seeing how highly people involved in the sport valued her involvement was emotional, she said.
Campbell had recently joined the Waka Ama board adding to her significant achievements competing on the water and coaching off it.
