Hold on to your hats this festival will be bigger than big.
The Rangitaiki River will play host to a festival to celebrate life on the river. Humans have lived on its edges for centuries, it has been a source of food and transport which will be the focus of the festival. In the inaugural 2010 event, empahasis will go on foods of the land, river and sea and of course paddling. Thornton will play host to a food festival, a location where river meets sea. Imagine Kai Moana (seafood), wild venison and pork, cool relaxing music, kids activities and you have the ideal day out. Add to the day hundreds of Waka Ama and Kayaks some of them racing from Matahina some of them from Te Teko or Edgcumbe.
The North Island Kayak Marathon Championships will start on the edge of the Matahina lake and paddle upstream to the Island where compitors will turn around and head back to the dam. Once at the dam the kayakers will have to portage (carry) their kayaks 1.2 kilometres to the bottom of the dam where they will kayak 33 kilometres to the coast. No doubt they will hear the festival at Thornton way before they get there. Some will be extremely hungry and the smell of food cooking may be an incentive to push harder to the finish line.
The Waka Ama marathon starts at the Matahina Dam at Te Mahoe. Paddlers have the option of completing the journey in W1 or W2 (single or double waka), a relay option is available with transition points at te Teko and Edgecumbe. The big Waka (W6) will have a 10 kilometre race which starts and finishes at Thornton.
For those not so serious a 2 kilometre kayak or Waka Race will be available and entries for this will be taken on the day.
Mark the 27th of March in your dairy, it's going to be a cracker of a day. Post this page on your favourites to keep up to date with this event.
For more information contact:
Mike van der Boom 07 3072050
