Thanks to Nelo NZ rep Terry Newsome, Matt Archer and Jörn Scherzer have managed to get their hands on the first demo Nelo V1 in NZ to put through its paces.

Nelo are one of the world leaders in canoe and kayak building, using state of the art technology in their design and build techniques. They are the manufacturer of choice by most of today’s World and Olympic champions including New Zealand’s very own Lisa Carrington.

To have them enter the V1 market and the sport of waka ama / vaa / outrigger canoeing is a very exciting development for the sport. This is the vaa that will be used at the current 2014 World Vaa Sprint Champs in Brazil.

A first review of this new V1 in action is available here (click to follow).

Nelo V1 (OC1) Price list as at July 2014:

• prizes may vary due to currency fluctuations
• for a single order an extra freight charge will be added to the above price

Constructions available:

• WWR: Epoxy / vacuum system / Kevlar carbon
• F: Epoxy / vacuum system / Polyvinylchloride foam / carbon
• G: Epoxy / vacuum system / Polyvinylchloride foam / extra carbon
• SCS: Solid composite system by MAR Kayaks
• E: Epoxy / vacuum system / Nomex Honeycomb / carbon or Kevlar

 Description:

• Length: 7.30m
• Weight: from 10kg (excluding ama and kiato)
• Beam: 42cm
• Cockpit: 105cm x 42cm

Options and extras:

• Foot pump
• Rudder with either foot pedals or K1 tiller bar
• Custom paint jobs
• Front bulk-head can be added on request (useful for ocean conditions)
• cockpit lip can be removed

More information: www.ipaddle.co.nz or www.nelo.eu

Contact Terry Newsome: ipaddlenz@gmail.com; 021 074 8485.

In the meantime, if you would like a demo paddle (and you’re in the Wellington region!), feel free to contact Matt on 027 485 55 20 to arrange this.

Go to wakaama.co.nz for the interview: http://wakaama.co.nz/stories/read/1003668

Thanks to the Hoe Tonga Region for the farewell gift received after my resignation as Vice –President, Hoe Tonga Pacifika Waka ama Assoc. During the last nine years as a representative on Hoe Tonga Regional Committee I have been fortunate to met so many passionate, active and inspiring people within the sport on many levels particularly locally, regionally and nationally.

Thanks to all our Hoe Tonga Presidents during my years on the Executive Committee George Fa’alogo, Paora Howe and Joern Scherzer who have been visionary and shown great leadership in challenging times for our sport in the past and inspiration as we move to the future.

Voluntary service can be both rewarding and challenging in so many ways and I along with many others look forward to our upcoming season at Hikoikoi Waka ama. There is a lot of potential for waka ama and waka activities in Te Whanganui a Tara working alongside a supportive and enthusiastic team.

The time has come to step aside and encourage others to bring their ideas and energy to the table to make things happen in our region. It is up to all of us, the clubs, paddlers and volunteers to support them to do this effectively.

Nga mihi nui
Chris Fox

On 4 August, Hoe Tonga conducted its annual general meeting.

To read the annual report for 2014/15, including financial statement, please click here.

The executive for 2014/15 is as follows:

• President: Jörn Scherzer
• Vice-President: Petra Belworthy
• 2nd Vice-President: Kathleen Rimene

A massive thank you to outgoing Vice-President Chris Fox, who decided not to stand again after many years on the Hoe Tonga committee & executive. She will be missed! However, she will continue to make a huge contribution to the sport through her ongoing role as Waka Ama coordinator at Wellington Tenths Trust and her role at Hikoikoi Waka Club.

At the AGM, Hoe Tonga also formally adopted the strategic plan for the next four years. Click here to view the plan.

PCKC Registration Day for Existing Members

Porirua Canoe Kayak Club wishes to invite all current and returning junior and senior paddlers along to our PCKC Registration Day for the 2014/15 waka ama season

When:                  9.00am-2.00pm on Saturday 2^nd August 2014

Where:                PCKC Clubrooms (Titahi Bay Boating Club, at the end of the car park at the corner of Onepoto Rd and Gloaming Hill)

You will have the chance to register as a member for the new season, pay your membership fees (though these are not due until 1 September 2014, so don’t worry if you can’t pay on the day), and try on and order uniforms. Fergs Kayaks will also be holding a stall there with all the waka gear you can think of: clothing, paddles, life jackets, water systems, etc. They’ll be offering some great discounts to our members (and taking orders too if you can’t pay on the day), so it will be an awesome opportunity to start building up your paddling kit for the season!

It’s important to note that we are doing our Registration Day a little differently this year, in an effort to manage our membership numbers a little bit better. If you, your children, or your mokopuna have paddled with the club before and wish to paddle for PCKC again this year, it is important that you come along to the Registration Day to register with the club. If you are unable to attend on this day, please contact Pania on 021 645 625 or send an email to poriruacanoekayakclub@gmail.com before the Registration Day this Saturday.

New members are welcome to come along to the Registration Day. However, new members will be added to a waiting list at this stage until we can confirm that there are spaces available in the squads. Any existing members wanting to join up again who miss the Registration Day this Saturday and fail to notify us of their intent to register before Saturday, will have to go on the waiting list alongside new members and will have to wait for confirmation of spaces available in the squads. So please get along this Saturday if you intend to paddle again this year!

These new rules for our club registration have been put in place to ensure we are able to provide top quality coaching, support and equipment to our members, and to make sure our paddlers and whānau have an enjoyable, fun and safe season paddling out on the water this year. If you have any questions, please contact Pania on 021 645 625 or Joan on 027 335 0902.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Below is a picture and ideas presented to Porirua City Council by Hoe Tonga that will provide options to increase the amount of usable space available for future waka ama events and improve storage and access to the water for the clubs based at Onepoto Domain.

To date the ideas have received a positive response. The work to make alterations will come at a cost with a contribution from both the waka ama community based at Onepoto Domain and Porirua City Council. Possibilities, plans and initatives will be outlined at this hui.

4.30pm Wednesday 13th August 2014 @Onepoto Domain.

Clubs based in Porirua, specifically with waka stored at Onepoto Domain and other stakeholders with an interest in waka ama are invited to attend or send a representative to discuss options.

For further information contact: hoetonga@gmail.com

All club representatives are invited to attend Hoe Tonga AGM and meeting on:

Monday 4 August @ 6.30pm at Police College, Porirua

Agenda:

• Presentation of Annual Report, including annual accounts
• Adoption of trategic Plan 2014-18: Hoe Tonga Strategic Plan – Final
• Nominations, resignations and Election of Officers (Executive Committee)
• General business

All enquiries: hoetonga@gmail.com or discuss with your club representative.

Anyone interested in helping out at our working bee to help clean up Onepoto Domain on Saturday 26 July from 10am -12noon welcome.

email: hoetonga@gmail.com with any enquiries