HUAREWA: Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Issue 1 - January 2017

HUAREWA No. 01 2 0 1 7

MEET THE KINGS OF WAKA AMA

TACKLING TAHITI

Start planning now for next year’s world champs

WORD on WAKA AMA FIND OUTwhat the fans think of this weeks regatta.

Page 5

Out and Answering About The Call

Hotu at the Helm

Our photographers have

How waka ama is helping

Tohunga waka

been busy catching the

bring whānau home.

Page 14

Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr

action on and off the water at Lake Karāpiro.

Pages 10 - 11

helps launch two new waka programmes.

Page 15

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TĒNĀ KOUTOU KATOA,

KIA ORA,

I would like to extend a warm welcome to you all at the 2017 Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Waka Ama Sprint Nationals here at Lake Karāpiro. Te Wānanga o Aotearoa is the second largest tertiary organisation in New Zealand and we are proud to be the event’s major sponsor.

From humble beginnings, the sport of waka ama held its first National Championship at Lake Karāpiro in 1990 with 43 teams representing 17 clubs. This year we have hundreds of teams from 68 clubs throughout the country taking part in the Te Wānanga o Aotearoa National Waka Ama Sprint Championships. Last year we had a record 3040 paddlers taking part, this year there are another 250 making this our largest ever nationals with 3270 paddlers aged 5 to 75 giving their all out on the water. We are often asked: Why is waka ama growing so fast? What is it that appeals? Apart from waka ama being an exciting, competitive and physically challenging sport it is one that appeals to whānau, everyone in the family can paddle. Mum, Dad, Nanny, Koro and all the kids, everyone can take part, enjoy their racing on the water and enjoy everyone off the water. Waka ama embraces the values of Manaakitanga, Whanaungatanga, Hauora and Tū Tangata. It is inclusive of all ages, genders and ethnicities and above all else it is a lot of fun! There are many people who have worked tirelessly over the last 30 years to lay the foundations for our sport's success and we are forever grateful to all who have given of their time to ensure we are where we are today. Waka Ama New Zealand is committed to support the growth of the sport in a way that maximises enjoyment and provides pathways for our paddlers, coaches and officials. We hope you enjoy the event this week.

Waka ama is a programme of particular significance for our organisation and we are proud to offer courses that ensure this once nearly lost traditional knowledge is maintained and enhanced. More than 1700 tauira (students) have successfully completed at least one of our waka ama qualifications and hundreds more are enrolled within our growing suite of waka-related programmes. Waka ama is an inclusive yet highly competitive sport that provides healthy outcomes for the increasingly diverse cross-section of our community that are participating in what is one of the fastest-growing water sports in New Zealand.

For these reasons, we are very happy to align ourselves with Waka Ama New Zealand and through our partnership we believe we are able to contribute to the sport’s development and raise the profile of waka ama in our country.

I would like to wish all the competitors and teams at this year’s event the very best.

Ngā manaakitanga, Dr Jim Mather CHIEF EXECUTIVE TE WĀNANGA O AOTEAROA.

Ngā mihi, Lara Collins CHIEF EXECUTIVE NGA KAIHOE O AOTEAROA, WAKA AMA NZ INC.

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One whānau and their passion for waka ama

FIRST DAYS DOCUMENTED 10

CONTENTS

Our photographers capture images from the first three days at Lake Karāpiro

TACKLING TAHITI

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Start planning and saving now for next year's world champs

FROM COURSE TO CLUB

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How one waka ama course led to an entire club being established on the shores of Lake Karāpiro

NEW WATERS TO CHART 15

We catch up with the latest venture by tohunga waka Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr

Cover image: Courtesy of Waka Ama New Zealand

Kia ora, and welcome to the first edition of Huarewa. This magazine is published by Te Wānanga o Aotearoa to support our ongoing sponsorship of the National Waka Ama Sprint Championships being held this week at Lake Karāpiro.

At Te Wānanga o Aotearoa we consider waka ama an important part of what we do and something which helps us fulfil our goal of whānau transformation through education. We currently offer certificate and diploma programmes in waka ama and both have proved immensely popular with tauira.

In this edition we profile one whānau whose life has certainly been transformed by waka ama.

The King whanau boasts multiple world and national champions yet few people outside the sport know who they are. Three of them – mum Nyree, dad Dave and son Tupuria – are competing this week, with Tupuria gunning for his fourth national title in a row in the W1 Open Men’s competition. We also profile waka legend Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr and show you everything you need to know about one of the fastest growing sports in Aotearoa. We hope you enjoy it.

Ngā mihi,

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Control

THE KINGS OF WAKA AMA

Auriole Ruka supporting TE PUU AO, here for lots of events What's your favourite thing about waka ama?

“It's gotta be our tamariki and our mokopuna” If you had a super power?

“Um, making sausages really quickly for the tamariki when they are hungry!”

Harley Raihe supporting his daughter in RĀHUI PŌKEKA What's your favourite thing about waka ama?

“It keeps my daughter fit in the summer period, and you have to be real committed to the sport” Who is the hardest team to beat?

“For my girl it would be Turangawaewae Waka Sports, or Te Toki Voyaging Trust”

Darnell competing for TĀMAKI What's your favourite thing about waka ama?

“Paddling on the water” Who is the hardest team to beat?

“Everyone”

DID YOU KNOW? f e time o nd at th ed in la a e Z increas e in New were rar t in them e Hawaikinui a s e m r a e t a in k Wa ano l but -hulled c n arriva lubs Europea after the double a. Waka ama c y was o s r 0 l bod tea the 198 iti to Ao untry, a nationa have h a T m o s sailed fr p around the co championship l u a ovt.nz) t n : teara.g were se 1987 and natio (source 9 8 9 in 1 formed annually since ld been he

HISTORY

LAKE KARĀPIRO

iver aikato r W e h t n e ion.

1947 wh tric power stat in d e t a c e hen oele ke cr iro hydr Taumatawīwi, w ificial la p t ā r r a a n K a e f er for th rāpiro is battle o ounter attack, Lake Ka ed to store wat event after the ac e f o n m n the edg atio was dam derived from a aroa, in anticip salt rocks near t n e g n pu ah ba e is ve off a Its nam f the area Te W warriors upon a g ’. r is u h o T d ‘o ”. fo ad the chie odies of his de o enemy hands d piro meaning b t n a e in h ’, ll t k a t c f burn they ing ‘ro er, “lest rā mean of the riv ce the word Ka en odour, h

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THE KINGS

WAKA AMA

OF

Among the colourful crowds enjoying the waka ama racing at Lake Karāpiro this week, Tupuria King is just another face.

In baggy surf shorts, a faded singlet and jandals, he doesn’t stand out from the crowd and unless you knew, you’d never pick him as one of the country’s most successful paddlers from one of the country’s most successful paddling whānau.

His father Dave is no different.

Tanned, singlet, shorts, jandals and a two-day growth, he looks in his happy place, lying back on the grass bank watching the racing and

Above: Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Te Taiurungi Dr Jim Mather with Tupuria and Dave King at the 2017 Waka Ama Nationals, Lake Karāpiro.

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the endless stream of young and not so young paddlers and supporters walking by his spot in the shade.

The pair were later joined by Dave’s wife Nyree and all three will compete during the week-long Te Wānanga o Aotearoa National Waka Ama Sprint Champs. Between them - and including sisters Rose, Hannah and Riana - the King whānau have won pretty much every title it’s possible to win in New Zealand waka ama. Then there are the world titles and outstanding results in some of the toughest and most prestigious waka ama races held anywhere in the world. They

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surely are the Kings of waka ama.

Dave was the first to dip his paddle in the waters of waka ama around 20 years ago. After first hitting the water in Ōhope, he trained on the Waikato River in Hamilton, often at the same time as waka legend Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr. “We’d be in the river and Hotu would come up past me and leave me behind,” he says.

While he’s the defending champ in the Gold Masters Men’s grade, Dave says he was only ever a “decent paddler”.

“I tried hard. I’d go okay but I could never beat the elites,” he reckons.

Still, he’s back to defend his title this year and says - from those humble beginnings - waka ama has become an important part of the family’s life. “It just sort of grew over time and became part of our lifestyle. Many of our friends now, are paddling friends,” he says.

As the children grew and began to find their own way in the sport, Dave took to coaching the girls’ teams while Tupu trained under his first coach, Rob Tamati. Nyree, though, was a notable absence.

“She made a point of not being around when I raced,” Dave says.

“She’d go shopping.” However, when she eventually did get into a waka, it didn’t take long for her to find her rhythm. “Within two years she was a world champ.”

Tupuria, 23, joined his Mum and sister Rose as a world champion last year when he was part of the six-man team which won the Elite Premier Men’s 500m and 1500m titles at the International

Va'a Federation World Sprint Championships in Australia. It was the first time in more than a decade that another country had beaten Tahiti in the 500m event.

For their efforts, the Elite Men's V6 500 Waka Ama team won the 2016 Māori Sports Team of the Year award. At the same 2016 world champs Tupu finished third in the single men’s Premier 500m division, providing confirmation - if any were needed - of his enormous talent. Last year he also won New Caledonia's Aito Taratoni race, held over 28km and with 200 fellow paddlers. “I've been competing in the New Caledonian Aito race for the last three years and finally I managed to win, so yeah it's a

Above right: World champion paddlers Rose and Nyree King Right: Dave King on his way to winning the Gold Masters Men’s race last year.

Among a host of other titles Tupu holds are: Winner of Champions Cup race 2015 NZ Aito Champion 2015 and 2016 Bo Herbert Memorial Race Champion 2015 and 2016 Third in the New Caledonia Aito Race 2015, NZ Open Men Long Distance Champion 2015 Catalina Island Race 1st Place Sixman Bhutty Memorial Race Champion NZ Men’s Sprint champion 2014, 2015, 2016

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really good feeling,” he says. His first outing in the Aito – considered by paddlers as the unofficial world champs - saw him finish around 120th, an excellent result for a firsttimer in a race where making the top 100 is considered an achievement. “In 2014 I made the top 100, and in 2015 the top ten.”

Tupu is studying towards a Master’s degree in sport and leisure studies at the University of Waikato, where his research is around the physiology of waka ama. In 2014 he was presented the University Blue award for top achieving Māori student in art or sport.

There are just as many meritorious results in races such as the Super Aito in Tahiti, the Hawaii Molokai Solo 52km and even the NZ Stand Up Paddle Nationals, where he finished second in 2015.

To achieve at such a high level, Tupu trains six days a week and two or three times a day.

It wasn’t always that way. “Early on it was more about participation, getting involved in the sport and the club. We’d have a two month build up to the nationals then focus on the long distance.” That changed once he experienced international competition. “My first overseas trip was 2007 to Rarotonga and that got me a bit more serious,” he says.

In 2013, his first year at university, he won the national title for the first time and was given the opportunity to race in Tahiti. “That was a big eye opener for me,” he says. “It opened me up to the level of the Tahitians.

Then the Te Aito for the last four years, with up to 600 paddlers and 28km of open ocean paddling. Many of them are semiprofessional,” he says. His success in Tahiti led to Tupu's appointment as an ambassador for Tahiti's national airline Air Tahiti Nui. Through his Hillary Scholarship at Waikato, he’s had access to some of the best sports and nutrition advice available, which has helped his training and preparation. Dave says Tupu’s commitment shows that “nothing comes from nothing” and he couldn’t be prouder of what he’s achieved.

Tupu says there’s no secret to success in waka ama, but coping with pain seems to be a key part of it. However, “you have to be able to work at a high threshold without the lactic acid building up. The ability to develop and improve myself physically, mentally, socially and spiritually through waka ama motivates me to push my limits and show that nothing is impossible.”

Left: Tupu King paddling on Lake Karāpiro earlier this week

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Visitor income generated at last year’s Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Waka Ama Sprint Nationals

Waka ama club affiliated members in 2011

Waka ama club affiliated members in 2016

PLUS

The increase in waka ama club affiliated members between 2011 and now

3270

the age of the youngest competitor at the regatta

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competitors in 2017

PERCENT

Just over a quarter of all competitors are in the Master and Senior Master age divisions

of all waka competitors are in the J16 and J19 divisions

500m SPRINT: The 500m race is over in a couple of minutes so a fast start is essential to get the waka up and running. The race starts with a green flag and crews need to be as close to the start line without crossing it, otherwise they’re disqualified. Initially there’s three hard, strong strokes to get going before a gradual increase in speed and stroke rate until you hit top speed, when the crew try and maintain boat speed. Around the half way mark, lactic acid hits - especially the arms and shoulders - and the burn sets in. This is also where another kick is needed. Through this stage crews focus on maintaining technique and breathing while in immense pain and with screaming lungs. About 100m from the finish line, there’s another push to the end. Bodies are screaming in pain but you try to put as much power into the stroke as possible.

Crossing the finish line, a quick glance shows where you’ve placed before you’re hit with a feeling of dizziness and wanting to throw up. It takes a few minutes to get your bearings and paddle back in. Back on shore, crews line up to congratulate the other competitors so while it’s hugely competitive on the water, off the water there’s an awesome wairua and no whakahīhī.

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ACTION ON AND OFF THE WATER

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"The World Sprints in Tahiti will be amazing.

Not only will it be exciting racing against the best of the best, but Tahiti is one of the ancestral homes Sprint Championships is not to be missed. Making sure you are prepared financially as well as physically is important and the best plans are made early to ensure you have everything on track to get to Tahiti in 2018."

Lara Collins - CE Waka Ama New Zealand

GET A PLAN & TACKLE TAHITI Imagine yourself and your whÄ nau spending part of the cold New Zealand winter in tropical Tahiti, soaking up the sun as you either watch or take part in the world waka ama sprint champs next year.

The IVF Va’a World Sprint Champs takes place on the spectacular blue waters of Tahiti in July, 2018 and planning to get there starts now.

Image: Gregoire Le Bacon

of Va'a, this epic World

M

ore than 500 Kiwi paddlers, along with about 1500 friends and whānau, attended the 2016 world champs on the Gold Coast in Australia and similar numbers are expected to set their sights on Tahiti.

There are two main challenges for people to tackle on their way to Tahiti - qualifying and paying.

The earlier you start your physical and financial planning, the easier it will be come 2018.

This isn’t always easy in January, when many of us are suffering from the financial (and physical) stresses of Christmas, but if you don’t want to come home from Tahiti with a big debt to pay, having a savings plan - and sticking to it - is crucial.

At Te Wānanga o Aotearoa we have financial literacy programmes that will not only help you achieve your savings goal for Tahiti but also help you improve your overall financial understanding. These include Papa Whairawa – NZ Certificate in Financial Literacy (Level 2) and the Certificate in Money Management (Level 3).

The nine-month Papa Whairawa programme is aimed at those with few qualifications. It allows you to study from home and has monthly enrolments.

Image: Steeve Dickinson

The Certificate in Money Management is a 20-week programme running in both Semester A and B and is held at our campuses around the country. Both programmes are free and give you the skills to set financial goals and budgets, manage your finances and plan for your financial future.

Check www.twoa.ac.nz for more details Did you know Research has shown that using cash instead of credit cards reduces your spending by 20%. It’s a lot harder to hand over cash and it makes you think more before you spend.

You can also get a head start on your Tahitian travel target by following a few simple steps…

STEP ONE What is the trip going to cost?

How many people are going?

How much are the airfares?

What accommodation do you need and for how long?

What spending money will you need to cover costs such as dining, transport, and entertainment? What other costs, such as entry fees, uniforms, koha, will you be faced with?

Visit wakaama.co.nz for estimates of costs. These are about $2000 per competitor (subsidised) and $20003000 per spectator, depending on accommodation

STEP TWO Set your goal The most important step in achieving anything is to have a specific goal. Goals are more effective when they are easily measured, are realistic and are broken down into smaller chunks, such as: “by the end of September I will have saved the cost of my airfare”.

STEP THREE Start saving Brainstorm with friends and family for different ways you can save money.

Start today - every dollar adds up so the sooner you start the better.

Put your savings into a separate bank account.

Even use a different bank so you don’t get tempted to access your savings when you are looking at your other accounts.

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WAKA AMA COURSE

HELPS BRING WHANAU HOME

For more than 30 years Te Hiiri Taute pined to return from Australia to live once again near her ancestral Waikato River under the shadow of Maungatautari.

So after working in Sydney and raising the youngest of her three children to the age of 21, the proud Ngāti Koroki Kahukura mother successfully applied for an administration role with her iwi (two years ago) and wasted no time in throwing herself into developing initiatives to bring other whānau members home.

In 2015, Te Hiiri, enrolled in the Te Wānanga o Aotearoa Level 4 Waka Ama programme, which is delivered at Lake Karāpiro.“The programme was awesome,” she says.“It wasn't just about learning how to paddle in a waka, there were a number of bonuses, one of those bonuses was that it was taught here at Lake Karāpiro and it attracted our whānau from everywhere.” Another bonus was creating their own waka ama club - Karāpiro Waka Ama, as well as WaikatoTainui providing them with two six-man waka ama.

We are starting this waka ama club to bring generations of our people back to their tupuna awa, marae and tupuna maunga and then we will open it to the rest of them.

They have a whānau day planned for March and are recommending other whānau members enrol on the TWoA Waka Ama programme this year. “We want our whānau to go through the course, as we know that it delivers a high standard of paddlers and awareness from the tikanga you learn on the course.”

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HOTU at the

HELM Hoturoa believes these developments could lead to a “recovery of understanding” into indigenous practices other than waka traditions.

"Any kind of waka activity heightens your perception of what is happening in the environment, so if people are encouraged into this type of kaupapa, we should encourage people to look further afield and not just 'go for a paddle',” he says.

“There’s actually quite a lot of science around what we do and it’s not as simple as people may tend to believe or think.”

This year Tohunga waka Hoturoa BarclayKerr is traversing new waters with the introduction of two new programmes; a Level 4 Certificate and a Level 5 Diploma in Waka.

“Te Wānanga o Aotearoa invested time and effort and they researched this enough to not just say 'hey, let’s run a waka programme'," says Hoturoa. "It’s all well and good to teach about waka, but to have the platform to do some of the practical learning is often something that a lot of other places don’t supply or consider.”

The Certificate in Waka focuses on preparation for the waka ama sprint competition while the more advanced Diploma is the first of its kind offered in New Zealand.

Hoturoa oversaw the tikanga aspect of the programmes to not only ready tauira for long-distance waka ama paddling, but voyaging the open seas on waka hourua as well.

“What tauira will find is a lot of practical stuff. There’s a focus on water safety, there are different levels of accreditation for understanding navigation and learning about the weather and once you dig into it, you start learning kōrero around whoever you might be.” “Often people will say 'I come from this waka' and you ask them what that means and send them off to learn about these things. Suddenly more information from that research starts to come through.” At the helm of the revitalisation of traditional navigation and voyaging

Leading a revival in waka traditions in Aotearoa. for three decades, Hoturoa says he was excited to be involved in the programme's development, at a time of growing acceptance and understanding of indigenous maritime practices. “For the last 200 years there’s been a belief that western science was the best thing you could have. It’s only lately that people are understanding that indigenous wisdom actually makes a lot of sense. Traditional knowledge - and not just traditional Māori knowledge - around the world can actually provide quite powerful solutions to modern-day problems.”

Hoturoa says his involvement with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa makes sense as the tertiary organisation has long seen the value in mātauranga Māori. Alongside maintaining these traditions, tauira gain an understanding of why waka hull shapes are designed in certain ways and tested for different types of performance and how the wind affects what waka hourua do.

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