Waka Ama

Waka Ama at St. John’s

Rationale:

To introduce the sport of Waka Ama to St. John’s College as a healthy recreational and/or competitive option for students attending the college.

Aims:

  • To create enough interest at the college to form a J16 team in 2016 with the idea of competing at both the Regional and the National Competition to be held in Rotorua.
  • To encourage students of St John’s College to register with a local waka ama club during the summer months to compete at the January National Sprint Competitions in a Club team. This will give students the opportunity to increase and improve their knowledge and skills of waka ama.
  • To promote St John’s College in a positive manner uplifting the community’s perception of the college and its values.
  • Long Term – To introduce a J19 team in 2017 so that the college will have two teams competing.

Over the last four years we have seen the young men grow in confidence and competence. This year, our St. John’s College J16 men’s team were the regional 250m champions and along with Sacred Heart College, were also the W12 250m champions. The J19s team we took to compete at the national competition, placed 3rd in the 250m Plate final – that is not an easy feat when you are competing against 55 other teams in your age group. The sport of Waka Ama at St. John’s College has come a long way since we first started. 

Waka Ama Gallery