Manaakitanga remains important for Ngāti Korokī Kahukura as kaitiaki of the Karāpiro Valley.
Lake Karāpiro is a famous sports park where world-class competitions take place and champions compete, but few would know about the hurt and pain its construction caused. Lawrence Gullery reports. On a warm summer morning, teams of young rowers speed across the surface of Lake Karāpiro, preparing to become the sport’s next international champions. Most are oblivious that below the surface of the lake lie some of the most sacred places and memories for iwi, in particular Ngāti Hauā and Ngāti Korokī Kahukura.
WAKA AMA NZ/Stuff
Competitors of all ages will contest the national waka ama sprint champs starting at Lake Karapiro on Sunday.
Thousands of paddlers from age five to 83 will compete at the 32nd annual National Waka Ama Sprint Championships on Lake Karāpiro starting on Sunday. The week-long regatta will have 3480 paddlers entered from 66 clubs – compared to 17 clubs and just 43 teams that contested the inaugural national champs in 1990. Waka Ama New Zealand chief executive Lara Collins said the event is a great opportunity to get together after several Waka Ama events were cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19.
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Lawrence Gullery/Stuff
It takes about half a day to set up their tent. They normally target the four weeks in between the final rowing regatta of the year at the lake and the National Waka Ama Sprint Championships, the first major event of the new year. It’s not hard to identify their tent, it stretches over two regular camping sites. It is the third they’ve used at Lake Karapiro over the years, and is 20 years old now. It measures 17ft x 14ft (5.1m x 4.2m) with a 9ft sun room (2.7m x 2.7m) and 8ft awning (2.4m x 2.4m).