Source: Waka Ama Aotearoa New Zealand
11 AUGUST 2026
Hundreds of kaihoe across Aotearoa prepare to take on the world stage as
teams unite in Singapore for the 2026 International Va’a Federation (IVF)
World Sprint Championships. More than 200 Aotearoa club-team entries have
qualified to compete at the Championships, alongside nationally selected
elite teams and individual V1 representatives.
The contingent will travel to Singapore for the championships at Marina Bay
from 17–31 August, bringing together 3,000 of the best paddlers from around
the globe for one of the biggest events on the international waka ama
calendar.
For Waka Ama Aotearoa NZ (WAANZ), the scale of the Aotearoa contingent
reflects the growth of the sport that is now drawing elite athletes,
rangatahi, kaumātua, whānau and club crews from communities right across
the country.
“This is a hugely significant moment for waka ama in Aotearoa, and the
first time our world championships have been held in Asia,” says Waka Ama
Aotearoa NZ Chief Executive Lara Collins.
“We are sending a contingent of 580 kaihoe to represent our sport. From
elite athletes who have committed to a 10-month high-performance campaign,
through to club crews who have earned their place in the national
qualifiers. They are carrying the aspirations of their clubs, their
regions, their whānau and Aotearoa with them – many of whom will be
travelling to Singapore to support them.”
The 2026 qualifying entries
<2026 qualifying entries>
include clubs from Te Tai Tokerau, Tāmaki Makaurau, Waikato, Bay of Plenty,
Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Horowhenua, Te Whanganui-a-Tara and
beyond. Demonstrating the nationwide reach of waka ama and the strength of
the club system providing opportunities through the high-performance
pathway.
The current WAANZ qualifying roster records 210 club-team entries, compared
with 208 qualified club teams for the 2024 World Sprint Championships in
Hilo, Hawai‘i. That growth comes on top of the national elite programme,
which includes J19 Wāhine, J19 Tāne, Open Wāhine, Open Tāne and Para Mixed
teams.