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Akayshia Williams has won her seventh premier women’s 500-metre title at the Waka Ama NZ sprint nationals at Lake Karāpiro.

In other Tairāwhiti highlights on Wednesday, Maia Campbell had a poignant J19 victory, Hine Brooking successfully stepped up a grade, Gaibreill Wainohu dominated the women’s Under-23 race and Mareikura paddler Losiane Toupili won the first gold medal of this regatta for the nation’s oldest waka ama club.

Horouta Waka Hoe paddler Williams led the premier women’s blue-ribbon event from the start and finished over five seconds clear of her nearest rival, as she did last year, recording a time of two minutes 27.41 seconds.

She had previously won the race in 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2023 and 2024.

Two other Tairāwhiti paddlers were in the final – Keri Ngatoro of Horouta was seventh in 2:38.37 and Shontelle McLean of Mareikura Waka Ama Club was eighth in 2:40.93.

Tarawera Outrigger Canoe Club paddlers Ngatuire Hapi and Te Whaeoranga Smallman were second and third respectively. Hapi finished 5.16s behind Williams and 0.06 of a second ahead of her clubmate.

It was a successful day for Self Storage Gisborne Horouta Waka Hoe Club, and it had its poignant moments.

This one's for mum ... Maia Campbell, inspired by mother Kiwi who passed away in November 2024, won the J19 men's W1 500 final at the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals. Kiwi twice won the premier women's W1 title. Photo / Waka Ama NZ

Maia Campbell – son of elite coach and paddler Kiwi Campbell, who died in November – won the J19 men’s W1 500m final.

His time of 2:15.38s was 2.54s faster than that of runner-up Marlin Toloa of Manukau Outrigger Canoe Club.

Campbell’s Horouta clubmate Frazor Wainohu was 11th in 2:26.29.

Frazor’s elder sister, Gaibreill Wainohu, also of Horouta, won the U23 women’s W1 500m in 2:42.95, 4.76s ahead of clubmate and runner-up Ella August.

Hine Brooking, the Horouta club’s world champion J16 sprinter last year, stepped up a grade to win the J19 women’s W1 500m. She covered the distance in 2:39.58, 1.11s faster than runner-up Abigail Liufalani of Pineula.

Also in the final were Horouta paddlers Marnie Toloa (fourth in 2:42.23, 0.2 of a second off third place), Taylynn Morete (sixth in 2:44.19) and Cheidan Moetara (eighth in 2:46.09).

Losiane Toupili looks to the heavens after her victory in the J16 women's W1 final. It was Gisborne's Mareikura club's first gold of the 2025 Waka Ama Nationals. Photo / Waka Ama NZ

Losiane Toupili won Mareikura Waka Ama Club’s first gold medal of the championships, crossing the J16 women’s W1 500m finish line in 2:39.68 and beating the runner-up by 2.62s.

Riria Ata, of Horouta, was third in 2:44.51.

Four other Horouta paddlers were also in the final – Tiwai Apiata, fifth in 2:50.84; Tutemakoha Kemp, eighth in 2:54.70; Christibel Mackenzie, 11th in 2:57.14; and Nalani Tuhoe, 12th in 3:00.12.

Only one Tairāwhiti paddler made the J16 men’s W1 500m final. Te Maumahara Hape, of YMP Waka Ama, finished 12th in 2:35.56.

Grant Donaldson (Horouta) was the only Tairāwhiti paddler in the master men’s final. He finished ninth in 2:28.01, 8.16s behind the winner.

An elated Hine Brooking after winning the J19 women's W1 500m final at the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals on Lake Karapiro. Photo / Waka Ama NZ

Tairāwhiti paddler and coach Vesna Radonich, competing for Taupō Waka Ama Club at this regatta, was third in the master women’s W1 500m final in 2:44.76. She was 6.99s behind the winner and beat the fourth-placed competitor by just 0.01 of a second.

Peter Cowan, of Te Uranga o Te Ra (the place of the rising sun), won a straight final of the W1 200m for adaptive men (VL3). His time of 1:06.71 was 1.62s faster than that of runner-up Miimama Pepe, of Manukau Outrigger Canoe Club, and 3.24s ahead of third-placed George Thomas, of Ruamata Waka Ama Club.

Cowan also won the W1 500m race for adaptive men (VL3) in 2:31.52 from Pepe and Thomas.

In the senior master women’s W1 500m final, Horouta paddlers Simmy Taitapanui (eighth in 2:53.94) and Penny Scragg (11th in 2:56.34) were the only Tairāwhiti representatives.

Te Tai Tokerau/Northland paddler Jason Reti, competing for Horouta at this regatta, was third in the senior master men’s final in 2:21.54, 2.43s behind the winner.

Two Horouta paddlers made the final of the golden master women’s W1 500m. Whetumarama Mita was eighth in 3:02.63 and Sonia Stewart was ninth in 3:03.08.

Murray Parkes (Horouta) was the only Tairāwhiti paddler in the golden master men’s final. He was 12th in 2:43.99, 14.38s behind the winner.

Horouta's Gaibreill Wainohu on her way to a commanding victory in the Under-23 women’s W1 500m final at the Waka Ama Sprint Nationals on Lake Karapiro. Photo / Waka Ama NZ

Marianne Gillingham, paddling for Mareikura, was second in the master 70 women’s W1 500m final. Her time of 3:12.97 was 2.15s slower than that of the winner.

Horouta paddler Katrina Wooldridge was second in the master 75 women’s W1 500m in 3:22.79, 3.78s behind the winner.

YMP Waka Ama paddler Kaha Hawkins was second in the intermediate boys’ W1 500m final in 2:51.11, 1.13s behind the winner. Clubmate Victor Newcomb was seventh in 3.10.39.

Horouta paddler Charlee Mackey was third in the intermediate girls’ W1 500m final. Her time of 3.03.42 was 4.14s behind the winner.

Other Tairāwhiti paddlers in the final were Maia-Dee Cook (Horouta, ninth, 3.13.24) and Majjik Peneha (Mareikura, 11th, 3:14.92).

No paddlers from Tairāwhiti made the premier men’s W1 500m final

Manukau Outrigger Canoe Club paddlers Jake Suitauloa and Kacey Ngataki finished first and second respectively and Manutea Millon, of Pineula, was third. The winner’s time was 2:08.51.