Image: IVF - Xavier Keith Photography
NA HORA KAIRANGI TĒNEI ATIKARA
Te Waka Pounamu’s Aoraki Matatū Master 50 Men’s W6 team has reached the final at the 2026 IVF World Sprints in Singapore, the only Te Waipounamu crew among the finalists at the world whakataetae. The team has spent the past year preparing for the competition, including competing at nationals in January before travelling to Singapore late last week.
“He maha ngā tīma i reira tērā pea ka mahi te mahi ka tutuki.” Iaean Cranwell says. Throughout this year’s competition, Cranwell has paddled at the front of the Aoraki Matatū waka as they take on some of the world’s best.
The Master 50 Men W6 race covers 1000m, made up of four 250m sprints and three turns. To qualify, the crew of six competed three rounds of races ahead of the final.
“Kei runga noa atu tēnei taumata, toru tekau mā toru whenua taketake kei te haramai ki tēnei whakataetae.” Cranwell says the standard of competition has been high, with 3000 paddlers from across the world, including more than 300 paddlers from Aotearoa converging on the event.
“The world champs is amazing because you get to paddle with Tahiti, Hawaii, Rapanui, Samoa, Tonga, all the Pacific Islands, which is what I love the most…” says Craig Pauling.
Pauling is the steerer stationed at the back of the waka responsible for guiding the crew through turns as they reach the 250-metre mark. The crew’s 25-year history has also strengthened the relationships between its paddlers.
“I haven’t paddled with Adrian for ten years, and Iaean, last time I went to worlds with them was 2018. So, that means a lot to be back in the waka with them. But also our other teammates that we’ve been together with for a long time too” said Pauling.
The team has previously represented Aotearoa at various global competitions and has brought home gold on several occasions, but Pauling says there’s much more to waka ama than gold medals.
“You can focus on winning a gold medal. But as we know, you don’t always get there… It’s better to enjoy the journey, trust the process, and that’ll happen if it’s going to happen.”
Aoraki Matatū joined two teams from Te Ika ā Māui, as well as teams from Canada and Tahiti, in the final. The Te Waka Pounamu team finished fifth, crossing the line in 4:43.48.
Master 50 Men – V6 1000m Final
1. 4:31.10 TAHITI - Paddling Connection
2. 4:36.27 CANADA - Coquihalla Crew
3. 4:37.77 AOTEAROA - Tūrangawaewae – Haakarimata
4. 4:37.93 AOTEAROA - Tarawera – Tarawera Sixpak
5. 4:43.48 AOTEAROA - Te Waka Pounamu – Aoraki Matatū
6. 5:06.13 CANADA - RR Underdogs
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Ka eke a Te Waka Pounamu ki te whiringa toa ki Hingapoa
Kua eke te tīma Aoraki Matatū Master 50 Men’s W6 o Te Waka Pounamu ki te whiringa toa o ngā whakataetae IVF ā-Ao 2026 ki Hingapoa, ko rātou anake te tīma nō Te Waipounamu kua eke ki ngā whiringa toa o tēnei whakataetae o te ao.
E whakarite ana rātou mō te kotahi tau mō te whakataetae, tae atu ki tā rātou whai wāhi ki ngā whakataetae ā-motu i te marama o Hānuere, i mua i tō rātou wehenga atu ki Hingapoa i te mutunga o tērā wiki.
“He maha ngā tīma i reira tērā pea ka mahi te mahi ka tutuki,” i kī a Iaean Cranwell.
Kua hoe a Cranwell i mua o te waka Aoraki Matatū, i ā rātou e whakataetae ana ki ētahi o ngā tino kaihoe o te ao.
E 1000 mita te roa o te reihi whakamutunga Master 50 Men W6, arā, e whā ngā wāhanga 250 mita me ngā kokonga e toru. Ki te eke te tīma ki te whiringa toa, i tauwhaiwhai rātou i ngā wāhanga, tae atu ki ngā heats, te repechage me ngā whiringa whāiti i tēnei wiki.
“Kei runga noa atu tēnei taumata, toru tekau mā toru whenua taketake kei te haramai ki tēnei whakataetae.” E ai ki a Cranwell, he tiketike te taumata o te whakataetae, ā, e 3000 ngā kaihoe nō ngā whenua puta noa i te ao, neke atu i te 300 nō Aotearoa, kua hui mai ki te whakataetae.
“The world champs is amazing because you get to paddle with Tahiti, Hawaii, Rapanui, Samoa, Tonga, all the Pacific Islands, which is what I love the most…” i kī a Craig Pauling.
Ko Pauling te kaiurungi, e noho ana ki muri o te waka, ā, māna e ārahi te waka i ngā kokonga i te taenga atu o te tīma ki te tohu 250 mita. Kua kaha ake ngā hononga i waenganui i ngā kaihoe nā te 25 tau e mahi tahi ana te tīma, ā, e ai ki a Pauling, ko te whakawhirinaki me te mahi tahi ngā pou o te kaha o te tīma.
“I haven’t paddled with Adrian for ten years, and Iaean, last time I went to worlds with them was 2018. So, that means a lot to be back in the waka with them. But also our other teammates that we’ve been together with for a long time too,” said Pauling.
Kua whai wāhi kē te tīma ki ngā whakataetae ā-ao mō Aotearoa, ā, he maha ngā wā kua hoki mai rātou me te koura. Heoi, e ai ki a Pauling, he nui ake ngā take o te waka ama i te whai noa i ngā mētara koura.
“You can focus on winning a gold medal. But as we know, you don’t always get there… It’s better to enjoy the journey, trust the process, and that’ll happen if it’s going to happen.”
I eke a Aoraki Matatū ki te whiringa whakamutunga me ētahi atu tīma e rua nō Te Ika ā Māui, me ngā tīma nō Kānata me Tahiti. I oti te whakataetae a Te Waka Pounamu ki te tūranga tuarima, ka whakawhiti i te rārangi mutunga i te 4:43.48.
Master 50 Men – V6 1000m Final
1. 4:31.10 TAHITI - Paddling Connection
2. 4:36.27 CANADA - Coquihalla Crew
3. 4:37.77 AOTEAROA - Tūrangawaewae – Haakarimata
4. 4:37.93 AOTEAROA - Tarawera – Tarawera Sixpak
5. 4:43.48 AOTEAROA - Te Waka Pounamu – Aoraki Matatū
6. 5:06.13 CANADA - RR Underdogs