Raukura ki te hoe, Raukura i te wai, Raukura i te Rangi e!!! 👌🏾

We’re incredibly proud of the 34 young men from Raukura who competed at the 2025 National Secondary School Waka Ama Championships at Lake Tikitapu, alongside 125 schools and over 2200 paddlers. Their effort and results were unmatched.

After six weeks of early morning training, guided by Matua Fabian Hurihanganui and Matua Jared Grace, our teams claimed four national titles and two silver medals:

🏅 J16 Men W12 250m – Raukura-i-te-Rangi – 1st
🏅 J16 Men W6 250m – Tūturu – 1st
🏅 J19 Men W12 250m – Te Rū-ā-Tarawera – 1st
🏅 J19 Men W6 500m – Tarawera – 1st
🥈 Tūturu – Silver in J16 W6 500m
🥈 Tarawera – Silver in J19 W6 250m

Other notable results:

• Te Kei Finals: 1st and 3rd place finishes for J16 and J19 crews.

• W1 Events: Hamiora Katu (1st, Te Takere Final), Hawaiki Hurihanganui (4th), Te Rito Rika (7th), Tawhiri Hepburn-Le Comte (8th).

We sincerely thank Hei Matau Paddlers, Uncle Tom and Aunty Mel Rika, Aunty Nina Goldring, and all our whānau for their unwavering support.

A special mihi to Matua Jared Grace – your leadership, logistics, and dedication continue to inspire.

This is our third consecutive year of national titles, bringing Raukura’s total to 26 since 2004 – a legacy of excellence in Waka Ama.