My name is Callum Sebualala and I am the president of the Motueka Waka Ama Club. Like many others, I visited Te Tauihu for a short trip, fell in love with the area and ended up staying. During my time here, I became deeply involved in waka ama, or outrigger canoeing.
The Motueka Waka Ama Club, based at Kaiteriteri Beach, has been active in Te Tauihu since 1996. Waka ama is a fascinating activity as it combines many aspects of life and can be a great metaphor for various aspects of life. Our club has over 100 members, ranging from six-year-olds to individuals in their 70s. Some members train daily for national and international competitions, while others use waka ama to gather kaimoana seafood, catch up with friends, and connect with nature and their cultural heritage.
Waka ama is the fastest-growing water sport in New Zealand. It has a wide range of positive aspects like teamwork, leadership, cultural awareness, physical fitness, water safety, healthy competition and much more. The sport enhances hauora, which includes physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing, attracting people from diverse backgrounds.
For myself and others, the club has been a bit of a lifesaver and a place of healing. It operates under tikanga Māori, creating a deeper connection to ourselves and the community.
Our doors are always open at the Motueka Waka Ama Club. We can show people how we coexist in our local area and uphold our obligation to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. A waka isn’t just a plastic boat on the beach, it connects us back to the ways our ancestors travelled and used these vessels. When we are paddling the local waters of Te Tai-o-Aorere, we are connecting to an ancient highway used by those who came before us.
Our club is affiliated with Waka Ama NZ, which provides support and safety for a range of long and short distance events on lakes, rivers and coastlines all across New Zealand.
Our largest South Island event, Waka Te Tasman, has been hosted by our club for over 20 years, attracting paddlers from all over Aotearoa.
As our club continues to grow, we are always seeking improvements. Based on positive feedback from committee members, we switched to banking with NBS due to its connection to the local community and personalised service. Our club treasurer and other members have praised NBS for its user-friendly banking system and app.
