After a few years based at Lake Henley in Masterton, the Secondary School Regionals returned to Onepoto Domain, Porirua. Rangatahi powered through the water and no amount of wind or rain was stopping their waka from racing!

Interested in the final placings of the day? Have a look at the 2025 Race Results here.

We want to take this time to thank everyone who helped to make this day possible, especially with the change in venue.

Ka nui te mihi ki a Ngati Toa Rangatira, Porirua City Council, Porirua Rowing Club, Greater Wellington Harbour Masters Office, Titahi Bay Intermediate and Tai Paddles for your tautoko.

Ngā mihi David Fa’atafa and the team at College Sport Wellington for supplying us with equipment and coordinating all schools’ registration details within the Hoe Tonga region.

Huge thank you to our local Hoe Tonga clubs Ōtaki Waka Hoe, Hikoikoi Waka Club, Porirua Canoe Kayak Club Inc, Hawaikinui Tuarua Waka Ama and TOA Waka Ama Club for providing your waka so the rangatahi could get out on the water!

To all of the whānau, coaches, managers and kaiako that volunteered your time in the loading bay or anywhere else, thank you so much.

Ā, he mihi whakamutunga tēnei to the Hoe Tonga Board for all of their mahi organising and running the whakataetae. Kei runga noa atu koutou!

A big congratulations goes out to the following:

• Wellington High School who were awarded the Hoe Tonga School Spirit Taonga
• Manukura who were awarded the Hoe Tonga School Excellence Taonga
• Wainuiomata High School who won some Waka Ama NZ 2025 Nationals Pōtae
• Hawaiki Hodges-Taikato who won the Tai Paddles Voucher Giveaway

Finally, we would like to wish the best of luck to all of our competitors heading away to the Secondary Schools Nationals in a couple of weeks. Karawhiua koutou mā!