The New Zealand Community Trust has given the Te Waiariki Purea Trust a grant of $43,660. This money will be used to cover the costs of the Secondary School Waka Ama National Championships. The event will start on Monday, March 18 at Lake Tikitapu.
This year marks the 22nd year of the championships, which will last until March 22. Young people from all over the country will come together to compete. Lake Tikitapu, also known as Blue Lake, is the smallest of four small lakes located between Lake Rotorua and Lake Tarawera in the Bay of Plenty.
Schools from as far away as Kaitaia to Queenstown will participate, and there will even be two teams from Tahiti. Over 2,000 young paddlers and more than 100 volunteers will be involved in four days of exciting racing.
Event coordinator Kelley Korau said the main focus is to ensure the safety and security of all participants and their equipment. The grant from the New Zealand Community Trust will help cover the cost of essential services like first aid, traffic management, fencing and Maori wardens.
The Te Waiariki Purea Trust is a not-for-profit organization that has been part of the community for 37 years. It works to promote youth and family services in Rotorua and Murupara. The trust believes in teaching valuable skills and creating positive role models through outdoor activities like Waka Ama.
Ben Hodges, the GM Grants, Marketing and Communications at the New Zealand Community Trust, said Waka Ama helps connect and unite families and tribes from across the country. He expressed his delight in being able to help with the event.
The New Zealand Community Trust is one of the largest gaming societies in New Zealand. In the year 22/23, it awarded over $40 million in grants for various community services, including sports, rescue services, youth development, arts and cultural activities.
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