Canoe Racing New Zealand

Come and celebrate the life of Simon McLarin as he would love - battling it out on the water!

Waitemata Canoe Club will host the McLarin Memorial Marathon on Sunday 19th July to commemorate Simon's life and accomplishments. There will be 20km, 10km and 5km course options, and is open to anyone who wants to come and paddle- K1, multicraft boats (skis, multisport boats, sea kayaks, recreational craft), SUP, Waka Ama and K2/Doubleskis, or other. People enjoying being on the water and challenging themselves is what Simon loved.

All proceeds from this event will go to Simon's family.

For event details and online entry, see our event calendar https://canoeracing.org.nz/event-calendar/

Less than 1 month until the 2026 Watersports Marathon Challenge in Hawkes Bay, the ultimate paddling wknd for all paddlers.

3 marathon events over two days - short course, long course and team boats. Do 1, 2 or all 3! Open to paddling craft (kayaks, ski, multisport boats, sea kayaks waka, SUP), this is a divisional event meaning you race against paddlers of a similar speed/ability, rather than in craft categories or age groups. That means, whoever you are, you are guaranteed an exciting and competitive race!

Entries are open now and all event information available on our online event calendar.

This event is the selection event for the 2026 ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships.

Congratulations to Claudia Kelly and Sam Newlands for their performances over the weekend at the ICF Canoe Marathon World Cup in China.

Claudia placed 8th in the senior womens short course final and 10th in the long course marathon, and Sam finished 17th in the senior men's long course.

We want to hear from YOU regarding the CRNZ Canoe Sprint events in the 2025/26 summer season!
We value your input to help us enhance our events, systems, and support. Your feedback on the following events is appreciated:

Tikitapu Sprint Regatta 1: 6-7 December 2025, Lake Tikitapu
Tikitapu Sprint Regatta 2: 31 January–1 February 2026, Lake Tikitapu
NZ Secondary School Kayaking Championships: 20–21 March 2026, Lake Tikitapu
NZCT Canoe Sprint Championships: 10–12 April 2026, Lake Karapiro

Whether you were a paddler, parent, coach or volunteer, and whether you went to just one or all four, hearing about your experiences at these events is invaluable to us at CRNZ. By clicking the link below and completing this 10-15min survey, you’ll help us continue to develop and improve our events for future participants.

Your feedback ensures that we can provide even better opportunities and experiences for all paddlers.

Complete the Canoe Sprint events Feedback form now - https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/eLRwaT0A5f
Submit your response by midnight Sunday 14 June 2026 to go into the draw to win a CRNZ prize pack.

Good luck to Sam Newlands and Claudia Kelly who are representing Aotearoa New Zealand at the ICF Canoe Marathon World Cup in Bazhong, China this weekend.

Both Sam and Claudia will be competing in the short course marathon events on Saturday and the long course marathon on Sunday. 🇨🇳🇳🇿

Just two weeks left to enter the canoe sport events at the 2026 Zespri Aims Games! Entries close 3rd June so make sure you talk to your school sport coordinator so you don't miss out.

The Canoe Racing event will be held on Tuesday 8th September at the stunning Pilot Bay in Mt Maunganui, Tauranga.

For intermediate school students, this is the chance to represent your school at kayaking in a fun and exciting event, which is designed to be an enjoyable, engaging entry into paddling competition and to build bridges between flatwater/sprint, ocean, surf and river paddling.
It includes both individual and team events, for year 7 and 8 boys and girls and all equipment is provided. This is a disability inclusive event.

Full information is available on the CRNZ online event calendar or Aims Games website. https://canoeracing.org.nz/event-calendar/

Entries must be done through your school Aims Games Coordinator, so please contact your school if you wish to take part.

The kayaking community this week is remembering Simon McLarin, a legend and figurehead in the sport and especially at his home club, the Waitemata Canoe and Multisport Club.
Simon tragically suffered a medical event while out paddling on Saturday morning from the club in Auckland.

Simon was a true paddler in all senses of the word, competing locally, nationally and internationally across all disciplines for decades, taking home innumerous titles and deeply involved in all aspects of kayaking and his club.

Memories around Simon have focused on his passion and dedication to the sport, what a formidable and fearless competitor he was and how welcoming and generous he was with his time and wisdom to newcomers. He was rarely seen without his trademark plastic bag pogies on his hands, and always ready for a laugh and some banter off the water. He was a loving family man, with his family often involved and present at events and club activities.

Canoe Racing NZ offer our condolences and thoughts to Simon’s family, friends, club mates and all that knew and loved him. His loss will be deeply felt in kayaking community and he will be sorely missed.

We recognise this event is particularly distressing for those involved, including fellow paddlers and members of the wider on-water community who assisted. We acknowledge and thank those who responded quickly to assist. CRNZ have offered support to those who would like it through the club.

🥈 Finn Murphy wins silver at the 2026 Paracanoe World Cup in Brandenburg 🥈

Final day of racing in Brandenburg tonight.
Watch Kurtis Imrie, Finn Murphy and Quaid Thompson wrap up this ICF Canoe Sprint and Paracanoe World Cup- tune into the livestream on the Planet Canoe YouTube channel.