Waka ama girls need your help

FROM the last of the last to international contenders: a crew of local girls is about to enter the water in a Queensland-based paddling championship.

In four weeks, a Maniapoto girls’ waka ama crew will compete in a big Aussie paddling event, and they are hoping for community support with travel expenses.

The event is the Trans-Tasman Gubbi Gubbi Indigenous Waka Ama Championships, hosted by Australian Outriggers Gubbi Gubbi, on the Sunshine Coast.

Training has begun; they have been out on the Waitematā Harbour and Hamilton Lake two-to-three times per week.

The young six-girl crew has achieved a remarkable turnaround in 2023.

As recently as December, the kōtiro (girls) had yet to discover their inner champions, according to team mum Jordaane Tangihaere.

“They’ve only been doing waka for a few years. Last December was the club champs, and they came last. Last of the last.

“We are talking at least 100 metres behind,” Jordaane said.

In a few months they achieved a turnaround, thanks to Erina “Edz” Wehi.

“Edz Wehi jumped on board as coach, and then they made it into the finals of the secondary schools’ champs in March. It was a huge difference.”

“She takes on a lot of health and welfare and hauora (wellbeing) stuff, making sure they are going well with schoolwork and home life. Making sure they’re not unfocussed.”

The Australian event will be the crew’s first ocean race – normally they compete in sprint events, on lakes.

Ara Tika, an Auckland waka ama club, is supporting them to become ocean trained.

There is a second challenge – the distance over which they will compete. The race in Queenlsand is a 6-kilometre event compared to the crew’s usual sprints, which are often 250 metres.

Jordaane’s daughter, Year 10 student Sierra Tangihaere, is one of the paddlers together with her sister, Vienna.

Sierra, 14, said the girls were all thrilled to have the chance to compete overseas.

“We’ve made a group chat; we’re talking about it all the time. It’s just so exciting to be getting out of the country and trying something new.”

Sierra has never left New Zealand and is a mix of nervous and excited.

“I’ve been researching all the animals over there, because we don’t have snakes or big spiders,” she said.

The girls are also preparing a performance to showcase Maniapoto Māori culture in Queensland.

“The second night or the third night will be a cultural night – you show off your culture. We’re coming up with a bracket, doing poi and a haka and singing waiata. And because two of our girls live so far away [Auckland and the South Island] we chat to them, call them, and show them the bracket. We’ve been practising it.”

For Sierra, waka ama is more than just a water sport.

“Waka ama connects you with the water and humbles you in your culture,” she said.

“If you’re wanting to be closer to Māori culture, it brings you closer. You get a real connection. It’s hard work though, it’s not all easy but it’s really cool. You can just feel that when you’re on the waka, it’s mean.

They always say a karakia before going out on the water and after their return.

“Before we’re on the waka, we say one so that if you flip nothing happens. You always have to do a karakia before you do anything dangerous.

“And afterwards too, to settle the playing field, and just leave everything out there,.”

The paddlers form a close emotional connection, which impacts how the waka travels.

“What our coach says is that the wairua [of the paddler in] seat one, goes through the whole waka. If she has had a bad day, everyone feels that. But if she’s having a good day, the waka is just flowing, and it feels so good.”

The waka ama championships run from September 29 to October 1.

The crew are Mia Wehi, Vienna Tangihaere, Sierra Tangihaere, Tamorangi Clayton-Lake, Naroa Banks and Kaden Jacobs-Bracks. Four live in the area and are students at Te Wharekura o Maniapoto; another has local family but lives in Auckland. The crew’s steerer is from Ngai Tahu, in the South Island.

They will compete in Australia with a borrowed waka ama.