Whitewater NZ |

Motatapu access day
2025-11-23 09:30 - 17:00 (Pacific/Auckland)
Motatapu River Access Day

Sunday 23rd November, 2025

Motatapu Station has kindly agreed to allowing paddler access to the Motatapu river across private land. This is a pretty awesome but seldom run G3-4 section super close to Wānaka!

Access to the north branch G4(+) section is possible by walking on foot from the confluence (no shuttle access). Beware of wood in this section

IMPORTANT: Please ensure you read ALL rules before attending. Violations may result in permanent loss of access for the entire paddling community!

Access rules:1. DO NOT drive beyond the confluence with the North branch of the Motatapu River – park before the confluence and carry your gear further if needed2. MINIMIZE VEHICLES, please ensure you carpool with other paddlers whenever possible! We don’t want excessive vehicles on the farm. Organize rides in this event page or meet 9:30 am at meet at the public carpark on the right, just before the one way bridge/entrance to the station, to sort out cars and shuttles.3. SPEED LIMIT is 30km/hr maximum on ALL farm roads, no exceptions – respect the livestock and farm operations4. GENERAL CONDUCT: Stay on designated tracks, leave all gates as found, take ALL rubbish with you, be courteous to farm staff, and please respect all signage

Ultimately, this access day is a privilege, not a right. Your actions reflect on the paddling community, don’t disappoint your peers or those who have volunteered their time to organize this opportunity! Ensure you bring your best behaviour, camera and biggest smiles because it’s going to be a sweet day out!

Big thanks to Matt Stout and Nick Pascoe for organizing access!

2025 Hutt Gorge Race
2025-10-04 09:00 - 2025-10-05 17:00 | Hutt Gorge, Kaitoke Regional Park, Upper Hutt, Wellington, 5372, New Zealand
Come one, come all to the Hutt Gorge Race! Yes its that time of the year again when we race for the coveted Hutt Gorge Shield, and of course a fun weekend out on the water with pals.
When is it you ask? well, the event will be held on Saturday 4th October and Sunday 5th October so save the date and register here!
This year, on Saturday there will be the Kaitoke Gorge Team Race and Kaitoke Gorge Community Float, as well as the Grade 2 Individual Race, while the packrafters do some sessions on Te Awa Kairangi.
The fun will continue Sunday with the Kaitoke Gorge Individual Kayak Race, Kaitoke Gorge Individual Packraft/Inflatable Race, and a Kaitoke Gorge community float for those who don’t want to race.
Camping is available at the Kaitoke regional park at put in (look for Camping Area 5). There will be paddlers there both Friday and Saturday nights. On Saturday, there will be a BBQ and prizegiving, and then a lovely fire by the river. Bring $8 for camping fees, firewood, and a small koha for operational costs.

Race Details

Race starts from the “put-in” with the finish flag after “toilet bowl” rapid, that makes it approximately 20 minutes of racing. If you don’t know where the put-in is, please ask!
Teams consist of 3 members who must paddle and stick together as a team or face the wrath of the gods! (disqualification).
You need to self-rescue and provide safety for your team members (although there will be race safety at the more sticky spots).
Teams need to organise their own shuttles.
The teams finish time is when the last member touches the finish flag.
After all have finished the race the group all paddle to take out, licking their wounds and/or bragging about their lines taken.
There is a maximum boat length of 9 foot (that’s 2,743mm for you modern metric peeps).
The committee’s decision is final, you better believe it!
To fill those empty tum tums a BBQ will be held afterwards at Kaitoke Regional Park with the Shield presentation to the glorious and forever immortalised winning team.

Entry Fees
Kaitoke Gorge Team Race (Saturday) – $15 per person
Grade 2 Individual Race (Saturday) – $15 per person
Kaitoke Gorge community float (Saturday or Sunday) – Gold coin koha to Hutt Gorge Whio Fund
Kaitoke Gorge Individual Race, kayak/packraft/inflatable (Sunday) – $10 per person, or free if you entered the team race
Registration
Please complete this form to register.

Schedule
Friday
3pm – Kaitoke Gorge familiarisation paddle. Dial in your race lines.
Camping at Kaitoke Regional Park, Area 5, Gates close at 9pm
Saturday
Packrafters – Te Awa Kairangi G2 skills share / safety day start time TBC
9am – Registration opens
10am – Grade 2 Individual Race Starts
12pm – Kaitoke Gorge Team Race starts
12.30pm – Kaitoke Gorge community float (anyone who doesn’t feel like racing)
5.00pmish – BBQ and Awards Presentation, Kaitoke Regional Park, Area 5
Sunday
No registration required
9.30am – Kaitoke Gorge Individual Kayak Race starts
9.30am – Kaitoke Gorge community float (anyone who doesn’t feel like racing)
12.00pm – Awards for individual races.

Tongariro Rangipō release - 30 cumecs
2025-09-21 08:00 - 16:00, 2025-04-27 08:00 - 16:00, 2025-03-23 08:00 - 16:00, 2024-05-05 08:00 - 16:00, 2024-02-04 08:00 - 16:00

Tongariro Poutū release - 30 cumecs
2025-09-20 09:00 - 15:00, 2025-04-26 09:00 - 15:00, 2025-03-22 09:00 - 15:00, 2024-05-04 09:00 - 15:00, 2024-02-03 09:00 - 15:00

WAIP OUT 2025
2025-04-05 07:00 - 2025-04-06 16:00 | Waipori Fall Road, Waipori Falls, Lawrence 9073, New Zealand
WAIP OUT is back for 2025!
21 cumecs from 7am – 4pm Saturday ONLYSaturday 5th April – Team Trial Race, Grade 2 Mass Start, & PartySunday 6th April – Dusty surf comp @beach TBD!Prizes for winners and punters alikeEvent proceeds to Sinclair Wetlands/Te Nohoaka o Tukiauau
Put these dates in your calendar and stay tuned for more info!

Waikaretaheke release weekend
2024-10-21 - 2024-10-22, 2024-04-22 - 2024-04-23

Whakapapa release - natural flow release if flows are over 16 cumecs
2024-09-07 09:00 - 17:00, 2024-08-17 09:00 - 17:00

Whakapapa release - natural flow release if flows are over 16 cumecs (back-up for if the release on the 12th doesn’t go ahead)
2024-08-31 09:00 - 17:00

Citroen Extreme Race
2024-03-10 08:00 - 2024-03-11 17:00

Buller Festival
2024-03-03 08:00 - 2024-03-05 17:00

Wairoa Extreme Race
2024-02-17 08:00 - 2024-02-18 17:00

Kaituna River Festival
2024-02-09 08:00 - 2024-02-11 17:00

PRANZ2024 - Murchison
2024-01-11 - 2024-01-16 | Buller river, Murchison
The annual meetup of the Packrafting Association of NZ will meet this year in Murchison for 5 days of paddling, workshops and socialising. Sitting right on the Buller river we will have opportunities for trips no matter the river flows. We are bringing in last years caterers from Reefton as the food there was delicious. Registration available through the PRANZ website.

Murchison Movie Night
2023-12-29 18:00 - 20:00 | Murchison Theatre, 15 Fairfax Street﻿, New Zealand
For a Future Together﻿
In support of the Whitewater NZ Awa Aroha fund.﻿ Whitewater NZ is launching their new Awa Aroha fund by hosting movie nights across Aotearoa to bring the community together. ﻿
Join us for an evening of adventurous short films which will hopefully inspire some new missions.
All funds raised through these events will go to a fund dedicated to supporting those affected by tragic paddling incidents in New Zealand.
Your local movie night will feature 5 great short films, totaling two hours of whitewater entertainment!
Film Schedule:﻿
Coast Chronicles:﻿ Sandy MacEwan
Cali Short Edit: Josh Scarlett
Baffin Vacation: Rush Sturges
– Intermission –
Paddle Tribal Waters: Rush Sturges
The River of Mirrors: Joseph Fender & Joe Rea-Dickens

Taranaki Movie Night
2023-12-21 19:00 - 21:00 | Cathedral Peace Lounge, 40 Vivian Street, New Plymouth Central, New Plymouth, 4310, New Zealand

Queenstown Movie Night
2023-12-19 18:00 - 20:00 | Yonder, 14 Church Street, Queenstown, 9300, New Zealand
For a Future Together﻿
In support of the Whitewater NZ Awa Aroha fund.﻿ Whitewater NZ is launching their new Awa Aroha fund by hosting movie nights across Aotearoa to bring the community together. ﻿
Join us for an evening of adventurous short films which will hopefully inspire some new missions.
All funds raised through these events will go to a fund dedicated to supporting those affected by tragic paddling incidents in New Zealand.
Your local movie night will feature 5 great short films, totaling two hours of whitewater entertainment!
Film Schedule:﻿
Coast Chronicles﻿: Sandy MacEwan
Cali Short Edit: Josh Scarlett
Baffin Vacation: Rush Sturges
– Intermission –
Paddle Tribal Waters: Rush Sturges
The River of Mirrors: Joseph Fender & Joe Rea-Dickens

Hokitika Movie Night
2023-12-16 19:30 - 21:30 | Hokitika Regent Theatre, 23 Weld Street, Hokitika, 7810, New Zealand

Xmas at the Kaituna 2023
2023-12-16 | Ōkere Falls, New Zealand
After last year’s disappointing cancelation of the most fun day of the year, this years weather patterns are looking to change! So lock in the date Saturday the 16th of December 2023 for Xmas at the Kaituna!
More information to come!

Christchurch Movie Night
2023-12-14 18:00 - 20:00 | Heaton Normal Intermediate School, 125-133 Heaton Street, Christchurch, Merivale, 8052, New Zealand

Rotorua Movie Night
2023-12-13 19:00 - 21:00 | Equippers Church, 324 Malfroy Road, Rotorua, Pomare, 3015, New Zealand
