Source: Waka Ama Aotearoa New Zealand
11 AUGUST 2026
Hundreds of kaihoe across Aotearoa prepare to take on the world stage as teams unite in Singapore for the 2026 International Va’a Federation (IVF) World Sprint Championships. More than 200 Aotearoa club-team entries have qualified to compete at the Championships, alongside nationally selected elite teams and individual V1 representatives.
The contingent will travel to Singapore for the championships at Marina Bay from 17–31 August, bringing together 3,000 of the best paddlers from around the globe for one of the biggest events on the international waka ama calendar.
For Waka Ama Aotearoa NZ (WAANZ), the scale of the Aotearoa contingent reflects the growth of the sport that is now drawing elite athletes, rangatahi, kaumātua, whānau and club crews from communities right across the country.
“This is a hugely significant moment for waka ama in Aotearoa, and the first time our world championships have been held in Asia,” says Waka Ama Aotearoa NZ Chief Executive Lara Collins.
“We are sending a contingent of 580 kaihoe to represent our sport. From elite athletes who have committed to a 10-month high-performance campaign, through to club crews who have earned their place in the national qualifiers. They are carrying the aspirations of their clubs, their regions, their whānau and Aotearoa with them – many of whom will be travelling to Singapore to support them.”
The 2026 qualifying entries <2026 qualifying entries> include clubs from Te Tai Tokerau, Tāmaki Makaurau, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, Horowhenua, Te Whanganui-a-Tara and beyond. Demonstrating the nationwide reach of waka ama and the strength of the club system providing opportunities through the high-performance pathway.
The current WAANZ qualifying roster records 210 club-team entries, compared with 208 qualified club teams for the 2024 World Sprint Championships in Hilo, Hawai‘i. That growth comes on top of the national elite programme, which includes J19 Wāhine, J19 Tāne, Open Wāhine, Open Tāne and Para Mixed teams.