From the debating chamber to the waka ama national championships, Far North district councillor Hilda Halkyard-Harawira has plenty of skill at both and she won a national waka ama title to prove it.
Ngā Tai o Tokerau Māori ward councillor Halkyard-Harawira claimed first place in the Master 70 women’s W1 500m sprint at the 2025 Waka Ama NZ sprint nationals held last week at Lake Karāpiro.
Halkyard-Harawira’s win was among several top-three finishes from Northland waka ama clubs.
Competing in lane one, Halkyard-Harawira, of Kaihoe o Ngati Rehia Trust, held the lead for most of the race and won with an impressive time of 3m 10.82s.
The 35th annual Waka Ama NZ sprint nationals attracted a record-breaking 3875 participants from throughout Aotearoa. The event, supported by manawhenua groups Ngāti Korokī Kahukura and Ngāti Hauā, is set to host more than 8000 spectators throughout the seven-day competition.
