The surge in popularity for waka ama racing shows no signs of letting up as schools turn out in their droves for this week's ActivePost National Secondary Schools Waka Ama Championships.
Starting today until Friday, Rotorua's Blue Lake is the venue to 482 teams from 90 schools, including Tauranga Boys' Tauranga Girls' and Otumoetai colleges, as they paddle for the national title on their outrigger canoes.
More than 1500 students from schools throughout the country are expected to line up in various boat classes in the under-19 and under-16 divisions.
Lara Collins, chief executive of Waka Ama New Zealand, said that despite only being around for 12 years, the Waka Ama Championships had grown into one of the largest secondary school sports events in New Zealand - second only to the Maadi Cup.
"The growth in participants has been quite phenomenal and I think the secret to its popularity is that waka ama really is quite simple for kids to take up.