Paddling across the generations
Smiles have continued shining around Lake Kara¯ piro despite a wet start to the annual Waka Ama Championships.
A record 3577 paddlers, in over 1700 teams, are taking part in the outrigger canoeing event this year.
In numerous teams their members cover three generations, including Te Toki Voyaging Trust.
Hotu Kerr is the chair of the trust. A member of Tainui, he is also the captain of the oceangoing waka Haunui.
‘‘Me and my wife have been to every one of these waka nationals for 30 years,’’ Kerr said.
‘‘It’s been pretty good because all our kids have paddled, right from when they were little kids all the way through, and they’re now competing in the adult divisions.’’
Some of those members are now coaching teams themselves, Kerr said, including his grandchildren, some as young as six-years-old, who have started paddling.
Kerr was overseeing the trust’s participation in Waka Ama, telling the young competitors to listen to instructions, and especially to wear their lifejackets.
It was a good chance for them to learn self-discipline, responsibility and teamwork.
Kerr has been involved in waka himself since even before the Waka Ama Championships came into being 30 years ago.
‘‘I’ve been doing lots of other waka stuff up and down the Waikato River since I was a little boy,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s quite a long history of canoeing activity, for the last 50 years or so.
‘‘I actually grew up in Auckland, but used to come back to Turangawaewae quite a lot to do canoe activities.’’
His wha¯ nau now lives in Whatawhata, Hamilton, with Kerr saying it made sense that they should continue paddling.
The family has had great involvement in perpetuating canoeing in the Waikato, too.
‘‘We started the first outrigger canoe club in the Waikato region,’’ Kerr said.
As the years have passed, more clubs have grown out of that original group.
‘‘We’re quite proud to say that a lot of the clubs in the Waikato have originated through our encouragement and assistance.’’
A large proportion of the trust’s paddlers are now young children, which Kerr said bodes well for the future of the sport.
‘‘It’s the kind of thing where everyone from grandchildren right through the grandparents can all come participate and compete. It’s very family oriented.’’