Murihiku rangatahi are training hard for the second Te Waka Taiohika o Murihiku Waka Ama sprint race.

The Waka Ama event, hosted by the Kōrari Māori Public Health team from Ngā Kete Matauranga Pounamu Charitable Trust, is being held on Sunday, 28 August 2022 at the Southland Powerboat Club at Sandy Point.

Sixty rangatahi from six schools will compete in the 500m sprint races to prepare them for the Ki Uta Ki Tai Waka Challenge in October. Ki Uta Ki Tai is a large waka ama challenge held in Te Anau over Labour Weekend.

Kōrari Māori Public Health Manager Karina Davis-Marsden said: "Waka Ama is our healthy initiative that gets our rangatahi connected to Te Taiao (the environment) while staying connected to te ao Māori.

"We would like to shout out to the Southland Powerboat Club, Invercargill Rowing Club and Active Southland for their support of water sports and waka ama."

Spectators are welcome to come and cheer on the rangatahi. The event will begin at 9am with karakia with the first race being held at 9.15am on Sunday.

The participating schools are James Hargest College, Aurora College, Verdon College, Southland Girls’ High School, Murihiku Young Parents’ Learning Centre and Te Wharekura o Arowhenua.