The 2023 Waka Ama Sprint National Championships is underway. With the last championships being held in January 2021, national titles are definitely up for grabs this week.

Cambridge and Karāpiro are feeling the buzz of activity hitting the shores of Lake Karāpiro as paddlers and their whānau and supporters from around New Zealand have arrived in the Waipā District for the 33rd Annual Waka Ama Sprint National Championship.

The event started with a pōwhiri this morning followed by the first race of the event which kicked off mid-morning for Taitamariki paddlers.

Racing will be electric throughout the week - there are a number of notable teams and individual paddlers to keep an eye on during the week

Vaka Manu (Premier Men Manukau Outriggers), Kaiarahi Toa (Premier Women Horouta Waka Hoe), Aoraki Matatū (Master Men Te Waka Pounamu) Taniwha Wahinez (Master Women Taniwha OCC). Including W1 Paddlers Tupuria King (Nga Hoe Horo), Kacey Ngataki (Manukau Outriggers), Akayshia Williams (Horouta Waka Hoe) - a number of whom are reigning world champions from the IVF Va'a World Sprint Championships held in London August 2022.

The 33rd Annual Waka Ama Sprint National Championship is being held at Lake Karāpiro this week. Photo: Supplied.

Whakaata Māori are the official broadcaster of the Waka Ama Sprint National Championships, with races broadcast live and exclusively from Monday January 16.

"This event would not be able to happen without the support of ngā kaitautoko, our supporters and partners, including Waipā District Council, Whakaata Māori, and Te Wānanga o Aotearoa as the official fleet partner,' says an event spokesperson.

"The whānau atmosphere creates the vibe at the lake during the week."

The oldest paddler taking to the water is Arthur Wilson age 81 from Whanganui and the youngest paddler Ava Keane-Tulepu is five years old, from Porirua.

The intermediate women's division (11-14 years) is the biggest division with 47 teams taking to the water in the W6 500m race.

The 33rd Annual Waka Ama Sprint National Championship is being held at Lake Karāpiro this week. Photo: Supplied.

"Our adaptive (para) paddlers will be competing on Wednesday and Saturday in team and individual racing,' says a spokesperson.

This year will be the first time that Omātai Waka Ama Club take part in the event. The club is based in Taipa Northland and is travelling to Karāpiro with two Taitamariki teams.

'We are excited to see our new and returning waka ama whānau heading to Lake Karāpiro over the next few days," says Waka Ama NZ Board Chair Zalene Douglas.

"This event cannot happen without the support and hard mahi from the many volunteers from around the country and we can't wait to see the event come together starting with our pōwhiri tomorrow (Sunday) the first time since 2021.”

Kia kaha ngā kaihoe o Aotearoa!