Create, Promote,Organise
We created this event back in 2017, as there was a gap in the market and an event we thought the
region would really benefit from.
We set the wheels in motion, by talking to Waitangi Kaihoe Waka Ama Club and from there a
partnership was formed. Funding was applied for and planning and organising begun!
A success!
We like to showcase waka ama and the region. There is a lot of PR surrounding the event. We
manage the event from start to finish, and all the bits in between, it has been a learning curve as none of our team had ever
competed in waka ama regattas before and our knowledge was pretty sparse. The event we have created
is something we are really proud off.
LAUNCH DAY
We had a fantastic inaugural Bay of Islands Waka Festival in 2017. TV 1 Breakfast show came to feature the festival live on the breakfast show
GROWTH
2018 and 2019 the numbers swelled and it became an event on the paddlers calendar, with people enquiring from overseas for 2020 and 2021 – however due to Covid restrictions both these years had to be postponed.
This event is not so much about the marketing and promotion– we do that through Waka Ama NZ as this is the go-to site for all competitors/paddlers.
KEY TASKS
Creating a seamless event
From the many Health and Safety procedures, marketing, sponsorship, and designing of the racecourse and operational elements, through to cultural aspects such as the powhiri at the local marae, and a whakatau, mihi, and karakia on the morning of the event acknowledging the local iwi and whenua, and beautifully hand-carved blessed taonga.
Sponsorship
