Students gather for waka ama

Whangarei Girls' High School's Zane Heta competing at Rotorua's Blue Lake. Photo / Supplied

A contingent of Northland paddlers are competing at the 2015 ActivePost National Secondary School Waka Ama Championships.

Competitors from Kerikeri High School, Taipa Area School, Te Kura Hourua o Whangarei Terenga Paraoa, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o te Tonga O Hokianga, Te Rangi Aniwaniwa, Whangarei Boys' High School and Whangarei Girls' High School are at the event which runs until tomorrow.

The championships are one of the largest secondary school sports events in New Zealand, second only to the Maadi Cup which is also running this week.

Chief Executive of Waka Ama New Zealand, Lara Collins, said that event organisers were expecting a bumper turnout of more than 1000 spectators to view the racing. "Each year, the waka ama fan base keeps growing. What's especially pleasing is how the sport is becoming a popular option in schools for kids from all over the country and the Pacific.

"It's wonderfully unique and exciting for spectators too. Blue Lake is usually a serene and tranquil spot, but when the champs descend it turns into a place of energy and excitement with cheers ringing from the lakeside," she said.

Schools will compete for national honours in one, six or 12 paddler teams over distances of 250 and 500m. Teams competing in the six person 500m classes will also have to navigate their way through a hairpin turn at the halfway mark.

New Zealand Post's community sponsorship manager Charles Ropitini said they were thrilled to support a sport that keeps growing in popularity. "In just 14 years we have seen the sport of waka ama racing take New Zealand schools by storm. It's fun, engaging and very community-driven. Kiwi kids can't get enough of it and that is why ActivePost is delighted to partner with Waka Ama New Zealand to grow the Secondary School Championships into the biggest sports event on the school calendar," he said. The championships are being run between March 24-27 at Rotorua's Blue Lake.