Maori Television Previews World Waka Ama Event

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

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