Take it from a world champion – there is something special about the national Waka Ama secondary school event.

Ngatuire Hapi, 20, won five gold medals and two bronze medals for New Zealand at the 2022 Waka Ama World Champs in London, and is gearing up to compete in this year’s world champs in Hawai’i.

Ngatuire (Nō te takere o Te Arawa waka) first competed in the sport at the annual Secondary School Waka Ama Nationals in 2019 – claiming a silver medal in the singles event in the Plate division.

Two years later, the Rotorua student had further success paddling for Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai, claiming a singles silver medal in the Championship division.

For all the global success, Ngatuire says the secondary school event remains a career highlight.

“It’s the only time where you get to race this many people your age,” she says.

“You definitely have to do it while you’re at school because, to me, it’s the most fun race in Waka Ama that you’ll ever enter.”

For Ngatuire, it is not the results that matter at the secondary school event – it is the connections that are made among students from schools and kura all across the country.

She recalls on one occasion dancing with students from six other school for 20 minutes after a race, despite her team finishing last.

But Ngatuire says it was her experience at the school event that also set her up for international success.

“Even though it’s a fun race, it’s still really good experience and exposure to racing, which is pretty important, especially for racing in sprints races.”

ACC is partnering with Waka Ama to support this year’s Secondary School Nationals being held at Lake Tikitapu in Rotorua from March 18-22.

Up to 2000 students from more than 115 schools and kura kaupapa across the motu are expected to take part.

Ngatuire will be attending as a volunteer, as she did during her first experience of the sport in 2018, and as a commentator.

Waka Ama chief executive Lara Collins says the event brings together rangatahi from around Aotearoa for a memorable week of paddling and whanaungatanga.

“We know how important it is for rangatahi to perform at their best while also looking after their hauora tinana (physical health),” Lara says.

“It's awesome to have ACC onboard to help educate our rangatahi and ensure that they are not only taking part in waka ama for life but for all sports for life.”

World champ Rotorua paddler Ngatuire Hapi. Photo: Xavier Keutch Photography.

ACC deputy chief executive Māori Rēnata Blair (Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei) says the agency is committed to supporting Kaupapa like Waka Ama that promotes the health and wellbeing of whānau of all ages.

“I know from my experience, Waka Ama is an awesome week to be part of and we’re proud to contribute to the manaakitanga (hospitality), whanaungatanga (relationships), and oranga (wellbeing), of these regattas.”

ACC’s partnership with Waka Ama aligns with its new strategy, Huakina Te Rā, which has the vision of Tōnui Ake Nei – A Thriving Aotearoa.

ACC research shows Māori are twice as likely to sustain a serious injury than non-Māori, but 34 per cent less likely to make an ACC claim.

This is something ACC is committed to changing.

“Our partnership is an opportunity to engage with whānau Māori,” Rēnata says.

This year’s event will also have a focus on injury prevention, with many Waka Ama competitors involved in multiple sports and now gearing up for the winter sports season.

ACC data shows most winter sports injuries occur in May as Kiwis get back into winter codes following the summer season.

Most injuries are soft tissue injuries like strains and sprains, with the 10-19 age-group lodging the most claims.

Rēnata says many of these injuries can be prevented if people take the time to ease into their winter codes with sport-specific preparation.

“We really encourage people to be in their best shape to avoid injury,” he says.

“There are simple things we can do to keep us injury-free, including taking the time to properly warm up and cool down, following correct techniques, and including sport-specific exercises in your training.”

ACC will be placing its “Thinker” statue at the Waka Ama event.

The Thinker is part of ACC’s injury prevention focused ‘Have a hmmm’ movement.

It is placed at high-risk injury locations, encouraging people to think about how an injury can have a profound impact on a person’s friends, families, and workmates, as well as themselves.