Waka ama paddlers take to high seas | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Rotorua man Pererika Makiha loves the sea and Rarotonga.

He has just returned from Vaka Eiva 2011, a week-long waka ama regatta in Rarotonga that attracts paddlers from around the Pacific including Canada, Hawaii, New Zealand and Australia. Mr Makiha has participated in six of the last eight regattas and this year Mr Makiha paddled for one of the top national senior masters crew - Men in Black (MIB) from the Taniwha club in Auckland. They finished a creditable third, in their section, in the Round Raro change-over race - the main race event. In front were the top Australian teams Noosa and Sunshine Coast. His team also paddled in the 12km mixed race and sprints held on the last day at Muri Beach. Mr Makiha enjoyed the level of paddling and competing against the top paddlers from around the Pacific.

"It's a celebration of outrigger canoeing and the competition offers different conditions and paddling against some of the best teams."

The closest New Zealand has got was the long distance nationals and the Takapuna 42km change-over race. But he agreed nothing compared to racing in the open ocean of the islands with swells often over 2m.

Mr Makiha, of Te Arawa descent, said he was fortunate he had spent a lot of his working life on boats. Presently he works for Environment BOP as the harbour master for the Rotorua Lakes. Prior to that he worked for the Ministry of Fisheries as an observer on deep sea trawlers. He was also the operations manager for the Te Wananga o Aotearoa waka programme. This gave students experience on waka from outrigger canoes to ocean sailing waka hourua.

Mr Makiha has 12 years experience on waka hourua and had his first trip on the Rarotongan waka Te Au o te Tonga. "I was in Rarotonga and one day I say this waka and I asked if I could go out with them and they said 'yes'."

Earlier this year Mr Makiha was fortunate to be involved with the Pacific Voyagers project sponsored by German billionaire Dieter Paulmann, the founder of Okeanos - Foundation for the Sea.

He was one of five Te Arawa men who embarked on an amazing voyage that saw them brave the unpredictable oceans of the South Pacific in traditional canoes, navigating by the stars. More than 100 people on board seven ocean-going waka sailed from Auckland to San Diego on a seven-month trip to reconnect with their past and raise awareness about the state of the oceans. Mr Makiha said it was these kaupapa (reasons) he was passionate about - especially re-connecting with the matauranga (knowledge of the past). Mr Makiha was a watch captain in charge of four people and responsible for looking after navigation, steering and trimming sails.

Next year the seven waka will sail from San Diego island-hopping down to the South Pacific Arts Festival in the Solomon Islands. Mr Makiha said he was keen to take part in different parts of the return trip. He was also keen to see the completed documentary of the Pacific Voyagers. There is talk of a further voyager up to the Mediterranean.