Publicity Release
Friday March 10 2006
Maori Television Previews World Waka Ama Event
Maori Television will screen a one-off preview programme – WAKA AMA WORLD SPRINTS SPECIAL – in the lead-up to the world
outrigger canoeing championships later this month (March).
Hosted by Maori Television reporter and newsreader Rongomaianiwaniwa Milroy (Tuhoe, Te Arawa), the half-hour
interview-based show will screen on Tuesday March 14 from 8.00 PM to 8.30 PM.
Nga Kaihoe o Aotearoa (New Zealand Maori Polynesian Canoe Sporting Federation) will host 24 countries at Lake Karapiro
in the Waikato from March 21 to 25 as thousands of competitors from Tahiti, Hawaii, United States, Australia, New
Zealand, Canada, Asia and Europe battle it out to determine the best outrigger paddlers in the world.
As the official broadcaster, Maori Television will screen a daily highlights programme – WAKA AMA IVF VA'A WORLD SPRINT
CHAMPIONSHIPS – on Tuesday March 21 from 8.00 PM to 9.00 PM; Wednesday March 22 from 8.30 PM to 9.30 PM; Thursday March
23 from 8.00 PM to 8.30 PM; and Friday March 24 from 8.00 PM to 9.00 PM; followed by a two-hour special on Saturday and
Sunday March 25 and 26 from 4.00 PM to 6.00 PM.
Among the interviewees on next Tuesday’s preview show, WAKA AMA WORLD SPRINTS SPECIAL, are Hoturoa Barclay-Kerr (Tainui)
– a lecturer at Waikato University and a recognised authority on waka ama – and Steve Harris (Ngapuhi) who has been a
commentator at the national and secondary school championships since 2003 as well as most major waka ama events in New
Zealand. Both Barclay-Kerr and Harris will join Milroy as commentators of the WAKA AMA IVF VA'A WORLD SPRINT
CHAMPIONSHIPS.
Harris says the world sprint champs will be a career highlight for many of the local paddlers as they compete in a
world-class event at home but overseas competition will be fierce. The Tahitians – especially in the men’s, masters,
open and under-19 divisions – offer the biggest challenge while the Hawaiian men will also present plenty of stiff
competition. The New Zealand women will get an opportunity to shine, Harris says, with the main opposition coming from
Tahiti again and possibly Australia.
“For our local paddlers to win a medal will be something to treasure but to win a gold medal would be a dream come true!
But like most sports, there's always the opposition and in this case, most of the world’s best paddlers will be here to
stamp their presence on the event.”
For more information, go to www.wakaama2006.com or www.maoritelevision.com.
Catch the one-off preview show, WAKA AMA WORLD SPRINTS SPECIAL, on Tuesday March 14 from 8.00 PM to 8.30 PM; and the
WAKA AMA IVF VA'A WORLD SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIPS on Tuesday March 21 from 8.00 PM to 9.00 PM; Wednesday March 22 from 8.30
PM to 9.30 PM; Thursday March 23 from 8.00 PM to 8.30 PM; and Friday March 24 from 8.00 PM to 9.00 PM; followed by a
two-hour special on Saturday and Sunday March 25 and 26 from 4.00 PM to 6.00 PM.
ENDS
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR WAKA AMA WORLD SPRINTS SPECIAL
Year 2006
Censor General Exhibition (G)
Duration 1 x 30-minute sports special
Language Maori and English
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR WAKA AMA IVF VA'A WORLD SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIPS
Year 2006
Censor General Exhibition (G)
Duration 1 x 30 minute, 3 x 60 minute and 2 x 120 minute sports specials
Language Maori and English