Pacific

He wouldn't miss it for the world!

For career photographer and veteran outrigger paddler Harvie Allison, Vaka Eiva is a chance to fuse two passions. Armed with some heavy camera artillery, Allison arrived on Rarotonga last week to catch up with old friends, visit his wife Shanta’s Cook Islands (Henderson) family and get ready to shoot one of the island’s biggest sporting […]

Juniors step up to challenge

More than 25 juniors teams are competing at Vaka Eiva this year, and one team – Te Tupu O Te Manava U19 boys – is even entering Friday’s Round Raro Race to battle it out with the big boys. Mapu oe vaka continues to grow, a positive indicator that the sport won’t die out anytime […]

Keep it green

Kia orana tatou katoatoa, Welcome to you all, from all over the Pacific, to the Cook Islands for the seventh international Vaka Eiva. Once again we have an action packed programme of lagoon and open ocean racing for everyone from junior paddlers to our Senior Masters! We hope that you will have a fantastic week […]

Born to paddle

Ngakau Toa steerer Tupuna Amo, of Avatiu, will participate in six race events during Vaka Eiva 2010, including his favourite – the 18km Avana Iron Challenge on Saturday. The Tahiti-born 20-year-old competed as a paddler in last year’s Pacific Mini Games 2009 held on Rarotonga. He has travelled to Tahiti for the sport, and this […]

Team lives up to name

With a team name like ‘Hoops! There it Is!’ – it’s no wonder this mixed basketball team took out the recent social mixed tournament. The team made up of Danny Williams, Geoffrey Halston, Conrad Piri, Henry Koteka, Charlie Hosking, Marlon Manglit, Moari Allsworth-Halston, Nana Manuela, Maire Browne and Tania Kermode were the team to beat […]

Boiler babes want 3rd win

The Te Tupu O Te Manava Boiler Babes are back again, shooting for the U19 championship title for the third consecutive year. Boiler Babes captain Raukura Ellison said that while she’s under pressure, felling the heat as steerer she’s looking forward to racing in her fourth Vaka Eiva. “We’ll just try our best and have […]

Tennis fundraiser success

The recent junior tennis tournament was an outstanding success with $3500 raised from food sales, tournament fees and generous donations. The Saturday fundraiser saw keen tennis players take to the courts for fun and competitive tennis games followed up with scrumptious kai prepared by the tennis kids and their parents. The funds raised will be […]

Green as!

Canoeing Association enlists Eco Partners Vaka Eiva 2010 Eco Partners are ensuring this year’s tournament will be the most environmentally-friendly to date. The Cook Islands Trading Corporation (CITC), Snowbird Laundry, Vaima Water, Cook Islands News, and Club Raro have each implemented green-themed initiatives to be run in conjunction with the week-long international paddling competition. Vaka […]

20 new trees keep it green

Plant a tree and offset carbon emissions and help stabilise the coastline. This year, the National Environment Service, in conjunction with Vaka Eiva, will team up with the Muri Environment Care Group and the Muri community and landowners for the annual tree planting ceremony. To date, NES and Vaka Eiva paddlers have planted over 50 […]

Super Nu!

Long-time paddler and nu enthusiast Reuben Dearlove believes the true nutritional benefits of the widely considered super-food are only just starting to be confirmed by science – and more discoveries about the positive properties of young coconut are due. Many paddlers consume the liquid inside nu (young coconut) during the recovery phase of training. The […]

Food galore

A smorgasbord of food will be available to paddlers, organisers, supporters, and spectators during this year’s Vaka Eiva 2010 international paddling tournament. For the second consecutive year, night markets are being held at the Punanga Nui Market Place where a variety of traditional and modern fare can be sampled. Punanga Nui manager Elmah McBirney said […]

New trade day

The Business Trade Investment Board (BTIB) is gearing up for its inaugural Trade Day Vaka Eiva 2010 market, to be held as part of the week-long international paddling tournament. From midday on Tuesday November 23, 14 authentic Cook Islands art and craft stalls will be established in the Vaka Village at Avarua’s wharf. Products for […]

Be hungry, eat the race!

Rising star learns to paddle from within Paddle from the heart, read the waves, don’t hold back and trust yourself. This is a mantra that Kiwi paddler Vesna Aroha Radonich goes through as she prepares to take to the water. Her favourite mantra though is – be hungry, eat the race! Vesna, who is of […]

Ocean art on show

Since 2004, The Art Studio in Arorangi has been paying tribute to Vaka Eiva with stunning displays of painted paddles. This year, the gallery will again showcase paddles, but has opened its exhibit to include paintings and other works of art. “Normally it’s just the paddles – we’ve done that very successfully since the beginning […]

Making news on the ocean waves

In between court reporting and police news – Cook Islands News reporter Rachel Reeves has been putting in the hard yards on the water ahead of her first Vaka Eiva festival. The 22-year-old was born and raised in Redondo Beach, California, and is American and German on her mother’s side and Atiuan and British on […]

Main race times to beat

Memorial race round island

Mixed crews are this year racing around the island in pursuit of the Bob Worthington Memorial Mixed Trophy. Last year, Te Tupu O Te Manava 2 won the trophy in the V6 Avana Iron Mixed Race – this year marks the first year that paddlers will circle the island to win Worthington’s namesake. Mixed crews […]

Boiler swim in aid of Te Vaerua

Paddlers, supporters and the general public are invited to swim the 750 metres out to the iconic Boiler in front of Trader Jack’s and back to raise funds for charity. The swim will be on Tuesday at 5pm, and anyone is welcome to join – all you need is a gold coin and your togs. […]

Security warning

While police and security officers are stepping up their patrol presence during Vaka Eiva, paddlers and supporters are still advised to take ‘commonsense’ safety precautions, as it will be one of the busiest weeks of the year. Police will be doing extra patrols – day and night – during Vaka Eiva and will be posted […]

Beware of the nasties!

Paddlers should be wary of stonefish and bluebottles and should know that local paddlers have recently been stung by both – by stonefish on the slipway at Trader Jack’s and by bluebottles during water changeovers. In the past two weeks, nurses have treated a number of bluebottle stings. So be on the lookout for bluebottles […]