Ngakau Toa Vaka

Today we say “adeus” to one of our international vaka sista Renata Bodo from Koru Va’a- Brésil. Todo de bom!

NTV Tahiti connection :

Maururu roa Alfred Faahu et Tahu d’avoir completer notre équite. 🌺

Big Meitaki ma’ata to Bodo from Brésil Koru Va’a for jumping with our open women 🌺

A huge meitaki rānuinui to everyone who supported our NTV Junior Fundraiser at the Raro Fire and Food Festival. Our Ngākau Toa Junior Team is one step closer to representing the Cook Islands at the Gubbi Gubbi Festival on the Sunshine Coast, Australia in October.

This fundraiser would not have been possible without the incredible support of our sponsors, donors, volunteers, and community.

A big Meitaki Ma'ata to our MVP's 🙌
• 21.3 Vaiana Bistro and Bar
• Cook Islands BBQ Alliance (CIBA)
• Steven Cook of Cook Cartel
• PRIME FOODS
• Capital Security Bank
• Island Craft Ltd
• The Short family business
• Amorah, Paulanzio and Ezekiel Maoate
• Junior Nooroa of Pacific Fish & Chips
• Turoa Bakery

To everyone who pre-ordered, bought on the day, shared our fundraiser on social media, or volunteered your time – thank you. Every bit of support has helped get our young paddlers one step closer to representing the Cook Islands on an international stage!

Featuring our NTV tamariki after their first 2026 national race 👇

Our Juniors are fundraising to go Gubi Gubi this year! The event features 2 days of junior racing on Lake Kawana on the Sunshine Coast in October from the 2nd to the 4th.

To help them get there, we are running a few fundraisers and below are the details for our fundraiser this Saturday 27th of June. Please come and support them by buying some food and goodies.

They will also be outside Prime Foods in the morning and then at Vaiana’s from 12pm.

Very fun Team bonding and birthday celebration for Maritime Cook Islands 🥳

Meitaki Maritime Cook Islands 💙

We had some members itching to get back out on the water well before the season starts!

A pleasure also to host our ocean family from Horouta Waka club down in Gisborne, we look forward to being with you on the ocean again soon. Kia Orana and Meitaki Ma’ata for the koha towards our club. We appreciate it very much 💙

End of year Prizegiving to acknowledge our paddlers’ hard work this year 🙌🏾

First of all we want to thank the following people/businesses that supported us by sponsoring awards for our paddlers this year: The Manea Spa, Tamarind House Raro, Waterline Restaurant, Rarotonga Bakery, Maire Nui Gardens, Pippilou's Mobile Beauty & Massage Rarotonga, Oasis Hydroponics and Josephine Bain 💙 because of your generosity, we were able to award vouchers to our very deserving paddlers for the their hard work this year. Our recipients for the following awards were:

Juniors:
U14 Girls Top paddler: Marau Totini
U14 Gilrs Rising Star ⭐️: Joanna Caffery

U14 Boys Top paddler: Vivian Kora
U14 Boys Rising Star ⭐️: Halem Hand

U16 Girls Top paddler: Ruby Newport
U16 Girls Rising Star ⭐️: Addison Doel

U16 Boys Top paddler: Joseph Tangaroa
U16 Boys Rising Star ⭐️: Lionel Charlie

Coaches award boys: Rauparaha Morgan Dolman
Coaches award girls: Isabelle Dun

U19 girls top paddler: Maddy Spurle-Lowe
U19 girls Rising Star ⭐️: Taira Tangaroa
U19 girls coaches award: Pourie Kaina

Open women
Top paddler: Talissa Koteka
Rising Star ⭐️: Leilani Sadaraka
Coaches award: Jamie Crawford

Master women
Top paddler: Raewyn Morgan
Rising Star ⭐️: Jitka Markova
Coaches award: Frances Akaruru

Open Men
Top paddler: Pomare Pittman
Rising Star ⭐️: Benjamin Raela
Coaches award: Damien Heather

Master Men
Top paddler: Joe HS
Rising Star ⭐️: Cameron Barnett
Coaches award: PapatandSofie Tangaroa

Coach of the year awards go to all our coaches for all the divisions above for their hard work and commitment to training our paddlers this year, Vaea Melvin, Linda Dun, Jakub Postrzygacz, Vina Manuel, Tupuna Amo, Tangata Fletcher Melvin.

And last but not least, our presidents award was awarded to our club treasurer Sheeny Teariki and club secretary Pip Hansen for their hard work behind the scenes making sure everything from working bees to club gatherings to making sure everyone is safe, well equipped and prepared to do what we love best - we are so grateful for you both and thank you for all the hard work you both do while training hard and competing in our top women’s team 💙

Meitaki atupaka everyone for a great year this year, your loyalty and commitment doesn’t go unnoticed and I look forward to being on the water with you all again next year - Ioana 💙