Kaituna Dam Proposal: The Current Fight to Protect The Awa April 29th, 2025 Background You’ve likely heard of the proposal to dam the Kaituna River by now, but if not, this update provides a clear overview of the background, current status, and potential… Read More
Awa Aroha Fund Movie Night April 3rd, 2025 Get your tickets here! For a Future Together: A Movie Night Fundraiser for Whitewater NZ’s Awa Aroha Fund In 2023, Whitewater NZ launched the Awa Aroha Fund, designed to support… Read More
2025 Photo Contest Winners March 13th, 2025 During January 2025 WWNZ hosted our annual community photo contest – we had 74 unique photos submitted, 20 finalists, with the top 3 chosen by community vote to receive a… Read More
Awa Aroha Fund November 10th, 2023 Whitewater NZ is so proud to be announcing our new Awa Aroha fund. This fund will be used to support paddlers across Aotearoa who are involved in serious whitewater incidents…. Read More
Whitewater NZ Photo Competition 2023 October 10th, 2023 Submissions for our annual photo competition are now open! How to Enter: Capture the Thrill and submit your entry via Google form by 15 November 2023. Include your name, the paddler(s)… Read More
Paddler of the Year 2023 October 9th, 2023 Nominations for the Whitewater NZ Paddler of the Year 2023 are open! If you know someone who deserves to be recognised for their dedication, skill and contributions to our rivers… Read More
Freshwater gold clam (Corbicula fluminea) September 27th, 2023 MPI has classified Freshwater Gold Clam as an invasive species in NZ Waterways. This freshwater mollusc (also known as Asian gold clam) was discovered along a stretch of the Waikato… Read More
Paddler of the Year 2022: Shannon Mast October 26th, 2022 Shannon Mast was nominated by Justin Venable, Hamish Darling and Mick Hopkinson. [Shannon Mast paddling Boundary Creek] Bio provided by Justin Venable. Shannon Mast (aka Daniel, Moisty, or Mzungu… Read More
Conservation Corner – NZ’s Native Fish! June 2nd, 2022 Our native fish Whilst secretive and not as showy as kākāpō, our 35 species of native freshwater fish are fascinating and an essential part of our biodiversity and eighteen of… Read More
Kayaker-come-packrafter June 2nd, 2022 A few words from a kayaker-come-packrafter If you hadn’t noticed, packrafting is growing at a great pace, attracting trampers and adventure racers, and quite a few kayakers. One of packrafting’s… Read More
Aquatic Pests February 3rd, 2022 Aquatic pests! Recreating in and around our rivers comes with big responsibility. As whitewater sports become more accessible and gear improves, more people are paddling and in more remote waterways… Read More
Summer Update 2022 February 2nd, 2022 Whitewater NZ Summer Update. Below is a brief run down of the submissions sent, idea’s worked on, successes had and work done. It is not a complete list, however we… Read More
Hutt River Te Awa Kairangi Whitewater Festival December 13th, 2021 The Hutt River Te Awa Kairangi Whitewater Festival was a huge success this year. It truly was a whitewater festival including kayaks, rafts, duckies, and packrafts. The events raised over… Read More
Whitewater NZ joins the call for “under one” pollution limit for our freshwater. July 8th, 2021 Whitewater NZ is joining GreenPeace, Forest & Bird, Environmental Defence Society, and Choose Clean Water in their call for ‘under one’ pollution limit for freshwater in Aotearoa. Five of New Zealand’s leading environmental organisations are… Read More
NZ Canoeing & Rafting Magazines are now live on the website!!! July 7th, 2021 New Zealanders have long been exploring the rivers across this beautiful country and travelling overseas to pioneer first descents and take part in great adventures. Through some great work by… Read More
Notice of AGM June 28th, 2021 AGM via Zoom on Wednesday 25th August at 8pm. The 2021 Whitewater NZ AGM will be held on 25th August at 8pm and we hope to see you there! Members will… Read More
Official WWNZ T-Shirts! April 29th, 2021 Show your love of rivers and support for Whitewater NZ by wearing one of these super cool new T-Shirts!!! Every purchase will help Whitewater NZ to keep our rivers wild… Read More
Ngaruroro River Water Conservation Order November 29th, 2020 Please donate here. After years of tireless efforts from Whitewater New Zealand and others, a Special Tribunal recommended that the Ngaruroro River in Hawkes Bay be protected by a Water… Read More
Fitness for Kayaking – How can we help minimise injuries? November 11th, 2020 With Daylight Savings kicking in and the weather starting to warm up, now is the ideal time for all of us to get out in a boat after work or… Read More
Kayaking in NZ during a pandemic August 11th, 2020 What does whitewater paddling in NZ look like at the various pandemic alert levels? With today’s news about Covid-19 in the community we thought it would be worth reminding everybody… Read More
Kayaking at Level 1. June 8th, 2020 Well done New Zealand!Today (8th June 2020) Government has reported that there are no active cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand. Because of this we will move to Level 1… Read More
A Quick Guide to River Safety June 7th, 2020 A Quick Guide to River Safety Our collective efforts during Alert Level 3 and 4 has enabled New Zealand to do what many other countries have failed to do and… Read More
Fitness for Kayaking – Developing the ABC’s of Movement May 11th, 2020 Our collective efforts during the Alert Level 4 Lockdown period have led to some easing of restrictions. For lucky paddlers they have been able to get their white water fix… Read More
Whitewater at Level 2 May 11th, 2020 On Thursday (14th May) NZ will move into Level 2 Pandemic Alert. Whilst some lucky paddlers were able to get a whitewater fix during the Level 3 Alert over the… Read More
