Hoe Tonga will be holding the 2025 Annual General Meeting next week via Zoom on Wednesday 20th August, 2025.
We require one nominated representative to attend from each of our Hoe Tonga Clubs to ensure we have a quorum. Additional club members are welcome to join by registering their interest via email to hoetonga@gmail.comfor the link.
All relevant documentation is linked below for your review.
Tēnā koutou, we are excited to announce the Hoe Tonga Winter Paddler Series for 2025. This series is designed for paddlers who wish to race in our region over the winter months and is also an opportunity for clubs to introduce novice paddlers to waka ama racing while generating some income.
Waka Ama NZ have shared some statistics with us showing a record increase of 27% of affiliated Hoe Tonga members! We’d love to see all of these new members taking part in the upcoming races and continue to grow the sport in our region.
Hoe Tonga are seeking Expressions of Interest from affiliated member clubs who wish to host an event, and who have the capacity within their club to host. A document with some background information for clubs to consider when planning and event in the paddler series is attached here.
Available race dates are listed below, noting Tai Tonga 41 are hosting the first sanctioned race of the series on Saturday 21st June 2025 at Evans Bay.
Please submit your Expression of Interest along with a list of dates in order of preference to hoetonga@gmail.com by June 18th, 2025. Should you require any additional information please reach out.
1067 kaihoe from 59 clubs across Aotearoa registered to take part in this national qualifying event, with 3 days of racing long distances of 8km, 16 km, and 24km to secure a place to compete at the IVF Va’a World Distance Championships 2025 held in Brazil in August! 🇧🇷
Luckily the atua heard our karakia and blessed us with three days of beautiful weather and prime paddling conditions for the event! ☀️
Now our manuhiri understand the classic saying “you can’t beat Welly on a good day” (don’t worry, we saved the wildest windiest Wellington weather for the days that followed the LDNs ⛈ you’re welcome).
Massive congratulations to those that placed and huge thanks to everyone who came along and got involved with the event! 🌟
E kīia nei te kōrero, he aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.
Nā reira me mihi ka tika ki a koutou katoa kua haere ki tō mātou nei rohe o Te Whanganui ā Tara mō tēnei kaupapa motuhake mō te waka ama.
Ngā mihi whakawhetai hoki ki ngā kaitūao mō tō mahi me tō āwhina ki a mātou o Hoe Tonga ki te whakahaere i tēnei whakataetae, ngā pākihi kua tautokotia i a mātou me te whānau o Waka Ama NZ. Tēnā koutou katoa 💛
Finally, we’d like to acknowledge our Hoe Tonga board and whānau. Tēnā rawa atu to our Race Director James Sadler and event leads Anita Taggart, Ani Suitauloa, Chris Fox, Jasmine Kaa, Marinna Millanta-Lowrey, Matai Te Kere, Ria Millan, Selena Katene and Thomas Tawhiri who all provided great leadership not only during the buildup to LDN’s but also over the 3 days💛
Mā mua ka kite a muri, mā muri ka ora a mua.
It’s been 12 years since Hoe Tonga has hosted this event, so we’d love to get your whakaaro on the 2025 Long Distance Nationals! If you haven’t already, please share your opinion here 🔗 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/588ZVVF
Hei whakakapi, ko te tūmanako he mīharo rawa te wheako me te whakataetae hoki, ā, he haumaru te hokingā atu ki te kāinga. We hope everyone had an awesome experience at this years’ competition and had a safe return home.
Nā mātou o Hoe Tonga Pacifica Waka Ama Association me ngā karapu o tēnei rohe, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.
Make sure your crew and waka are good to go for the LDNs with this safety checklist! Please note that this is the minimum requirement for safety gear, but Waka Ama NZ encourages you to include any further equipment you deem relevant.
On behalf of Waka Ama NZ, Hoe Tonga Pacifica Waka Ama Association and the collective of Hoe Tonga Clubs we look forward to hosting you all in Porirua for the 2025 LDNs!
If you are keen to register as a support boat for the Long Distance Nationals at Ngāti Toa Domain, Porirua – complete the EOI form or get in touch hoetonga@gmail.com
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!
College Sport Wellington Hoe Tonga Regional Secondary Schools Waka ama Sprints 2025
Please find below some information regarding this weekends event at Onepoto, Porirua on Saturday 8 March 2025.Download Updated Information Sheet for all participants.
Due to the closure of Lake Henley to recreational users Hoe Tonga have been busy organising and changing venue to Onepoto Domain with the support of Porirua City Council’s team and our thanks to the many kaitūao/volunteers who consistently show up to assist. We have an amazing team on board – Ngā mihi mahana kia koutou katoa!
Just a reminder that all race times, heats and results will be available on Live Results so managers, paddlers are encouraged to charge up your phones. Race Draw can be downloaded and a link to Live Results is here: https://liveresults.co.nz/competition/490
Safety Waivers must be completed for all teams and handed in at our registration desk on arrival. Please advise team managers to check in and advise asap if any teams will not be attending or racing as this will affect the flow of our day. Download Safety waivers here: Hoe Tonga Waivers for Regional Secondary School Sprints 2025
Saturday 23 August 2025
Ngāti Toa Domain, Porirua
8/9 km short course
16/17km long course
W6 Men, Women, Mixed teams
Hoe Tonga Pacifica Waka Ama Association 
