NZCT funds Te Waiariki Purea Trust for major Waka Ama event.

New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) has granted Te Waiariki Purea Trust $43,660 towards the costs of hosting the Secondary School Waka Ama National Championships (SSWAN) which is to commence on Monday (18 March) at Lake Tikitapu.

Now in their twenty-second year, the championships, will run until 22nd March and bring together rangatahi from across the country to compete. With schools participating from as far as Kaitaia to Queenstown and even two teams from Tahiti, the event hosts over 2,000 young paddlers and 100 plus volunteers for four days of exhilarating racing.

Event Coordinator Kelley Korau says "Our main focus is on ensuring the safety and security of all participants and their equipment. NZCT’s grant helps cover the cost of essential services such as first aid, traffic management, fencing and Maori wardens."

NZCT’s GM Grants, Marketing and Communications, Ben Hodges adds “Waka Ama helps connect and unite whanau and iwi from across Aotearoa. We're delighted to be able to help. We thank our responsible gaming hospitality partners in Rotorua – Mo’s Tavern, Kaspers Sports Bar, and the West End Tavern) – for their help in making this grant possible.’’