Poutini Waka Hoa (Hoe)

A Moment of Pride: Poutini Waka Ama's First Ever Race (in Dunedin).

Wow, what an experience! Words can hardly capture the pride and joy we feel. We made it! Poutini Waka Ama traveled to Dunedin with two groups of rangatahi and a group of mixed adults to compete in their first-ever waka ama race. It was an amazing event, marking a significant milestone for our team.

Hayley Smith: You can move mountains with one hand! Your dedication and hard work were pivotal in making this journey a success. From the planning stages to the execution, your commitment never wavered.

Wesley: You are our rock. Your support for our team and our youth is invaluable. We rely on you so much, and you never let us down. Watching the positive changes you bring to your sons and our community is a beautiful experience. We are immensely proud of you.

To our rangatahi who dedicated their time and effort, we cannot thank you enough. You showed your vulnerabilities and faced the challenge with courage. On the day of the race, you paddled your hearts out, giving it everything you had. Your performance was nothing short of spectacular.

A huge thank you to our supporters: Poutini Waiora, WestREAP, Te Rito, and the whānau. Your contributions and encouragement were instrumental in our journey. We are grateful for your support.

Our hard work paid off, and we are thrilled to announce that we secured a 1st, another 1st, and a 4th place! This taste of success has given us the bug, and Poutini Waka Ama is just beginning its journey to greatness. There will be more races, more victories, and more moments of pride.