Team Hikoikoi – Tahiti Worlds 2018

Hikoikoi Waka Ama’s talented team of committed paddlers have been selected to compete at IVF Va’a World Championship 2018 in Tahiti to race against the best waka ama (outrigger canoe) paddlers in the world.

It will be the first time on the world stage for the upcoming Wellington team that have only been paddling for two years!

The team need to raise funds to help cover costs associated with travel and accommodation arrangements as Tahiti is quite expensive. Any contribution provided would go a long way in helping fund this opportunity. Your support would be greatly appreciated and enable the team to bring this opportunity to life.

Qualifying for worlds was a goal for the squad and is the first time Hikoikoi Waka Ama Club have had a team with this opportunity. Complimenting their training over the last year and aiding in raising the Club’s profile, the team have shown that it’s about community for them, and that waka ama helps rangatahi, for example, they have:

• coached local school teams taking them to regional and national tournaments

• ran Petone community beach clean ups

• hosted the first Rippa ‘Round the Harbour Tournament with Wellington Rugby to encourage youth to engage in summer sports like Waka Ama and Ripper Rugby.

• gave free waka rides at community days across the Lower North Island

• organised the largest Matariki Harbour Challenge race on Wellington Harbour

• participated in the 2018 NZ Arts Festival Waka Odyssey opening

Help them to continue to create connections with whanau, friends, the moana and surrounding environments.

Back our boys – mauri ora!