Wellington Dragon Boats will come up firing at 10th festival, in '24

Wellington Dragon Boaters will be speeding across the Harbour in new boats thanks to a recent grant from NZCT.

Spokesperson Rebecca Winton says -

In 2022 we embarked upon a project to replace our fleet of ten Dragon Boats. Our existing boats were generously funded by NZCT, but have now reached the end of their useful life, requiring significant ongoing maintenance to keep them on the water. This application was for funding of $147,500 which would fund five new dragon boats and bring our full fleet up to scratch.

It is essential that our equipment is fit for purpose to ensure that we are able to run the Wellington Dragon Boat Festival, as well as offering training and supporting teams who are competing in other Dragon boating events throughout the year. We’re committed to providing all of the necessary equipment to allow our paddlers to participate at a low cost and ensure that our sport is inclusive and accessible for everyone who wants to participate in this iconic event.

The Wellington Dragon Boat Festival is a free-to-watch spectacle held on the Wellington waterfront, providing enjoyment and entertainment for thousands of spectators. With preparations beginning for the tenth anniversary of the Festival in March 2024, we wanted to be sure that our equipment was fit-for-purpose and safe for use by our paddlers. This grant will enable us to replace five dragon boats which require significant ongoing maintenance to keep them on the water and bring our entire fleet up to scratch. This means that every paddler will have the opportunity to take to the water on a brand new, purpose-built dragon boat.

The Wellington Dragon Boat Charitable Trust is a registered charitable entity formed in 2018 to support, promote, and provide for the sport of Dragon Boating. A key element of our mission is the promotion and teaching of water and boating safety, developing skills which keep our participants safe whilst dragon boating and beyond.

We anticipate that 2,225 paddlers will be supported by the Trust to train for and compete in the Wellington Dragon Boat Festival in March 2024. By providing equipment and event resources and infrastructure we ensure that dragon boating is financially accessible to a wide cross section of the community. This year, we supported forty-three teams of school children, youth groups, community groups, and sports clubs, as well as charities such as the NZ Red Cross, CanSurvive (breast cancer survivors), and NZ Invictus (war veterans). There is a high representation of Māori and Pasifika across both our youth and adult paddlers.

In 2024 the Festival will also incorporate the Schools Dragon Boat Nationals in conjunction with the New Zealand Dragon Boat Association, with schools from across Aotearoa travelling to compete. This will allow our youngest competitors to showcase their talent and compete at the highest level. It is an incredible opportunity to increase the visibility and profile of dragon boating as a fun, competitive and inclusive activity that can be enjoyed without the high costs often associated with on-water sports. This has been made possible by the generosity of NZCT who have enabled us to ensure that the dragon boats available for use by these young paddlers are safe and suitable.