Whaleboat battle of New Year

Oparau Rowing Club College team get ready for the New Year's Day races on Kawhia Harbour. Photo / Michael Craig

People around Kawhia love the challenge of race series in traditional whaleboats

Rowing teams around Kawhia are preparing for intensely fought whaleboat regattas starting on New Years' Day.

In a rivalry unique in New Zealand, local teams Oparau, Kawhia, and Te Waitere will battle for honours in three regattas.

"It's not the Olympics but it's treated as the Olympics locally," said Oparau Whaleboat Rowing Club's Steve Shaw. The local veteran was proud of his club's efforts in the last regatta. Oparau took home the Constant Cup, the event's top trophy, despite having just one boat. Te Waitere had two boats, Kawhia three.

Shaw said the regatta helped locals and visitors celebrate the New Year together. "It's a community thing. It gets all the kids and everyone involved."

Each team has five rowers and a cox. Oparau club treasurer Carolyn Wilson said there were eight different races ranging from novice boys and girls to veteran men and women. Oparau College girls team Tanya Shaw (cox), Kelsey Berntsen, Holly Scott, Maddison Freestone, Shari De Wys and Sheneil Berntsen started training months ago.

"You've got to train in all weather because you don't know what the weather's going to be on the day," Shaw said.

"You have to be a bit hardened-up to row them."