Important Event Update – 2026 NZCT New Zealand Canoe Sprint Championships
We are looking forward to the Sprint National Championships set to start on Friday but like most of you are tracking the progress and likely impact of Tropical Cyclone Vaianu. The cyclone is currently forecast to make landfall late Saturday or early Sunday and, unlike the usual pattern, it appears to be intensifying rather than weakening.
As a result, the event team is currently confirming plans to compress the racing to a 2-day programme (Friday and Saturday) in anticipation that racing will not occur on Sunday due to the weather and water state. This may also give people the chance to drive home Saturday evening, especially those towing large trailers.
The intention is to try complete 1000m/500m events on Friday and 200m, 12&U 100m, relays and 2.5/5km on Saturday.
There will be a Powhiri with local iwi, Ngāti Koroki Kahukura on the boat ramp at 6am on Friday. Racing will begin at 7am each day and finish later than originally scheduled, with no lunch breaks.
A new schedule and draw will be published and shared this afternoon, and we recognise there will likely be changes and withdrawals as a result of the schedule change. Please contact your team manager with any required changes.
We know this will put pressure on the athletes and potentially affect travel plans but this approach is intended to keep the programme as tight and resilient as possible while prioritising safety and delivery. We will continue to update team managers and participants as required.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
