Competitors from across the Pacific, and from as far afield as Canada, Sweden and the United Kingdom, have converged on Rarotonga for nine days of racing spanning open-ocean marathon courses through to rapid sprints, catering to paddlers of every age and ability.
Event coordinator Jules Tamaariki described this year's international turnout as one of the most diverse the event has ever attracted. Speaking to CITV, she said: "We've got an exciting one this year, we have 10 overseas countries. We've got Aotearoa, Australia, Hawaii, and Tahiti. We've got someone from Sweden. It's a really long way to come. We've got Hong Kong, UK, we've got a huge mix."
Racing unfolds across two distinct environments: open-ocean courses launching from Avarua Wharf, and the sheltered waters of Muri lagoon for junior competitors. The programme covers under-18s through to the 50-plus divisions, with ocean irons, marathon distances, fast-paced sprints, and the Round Raro Relay, a gruelling 36-kilometre race contested in a six-man canoe, all on the schedule.
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For local paddlers, the chance to measure themselves against international competition sits at the core of what the event is about. Tamaariki explained: "We've got some great, great paddlers coming, some really good competition for our locals. So that's the thing for our local paddlers, is we really only compete against each other. This is the reason Vaka Eiva started, it gives our locals a chance to race against international competition."
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Community backing has been strong, with volunteers turning out in good numbers and local businesses offering discounts and deals to support the event. "We've got some great volunteers, probably more than what we need... Everyone's putting their hand up to help," Tamaariki said.
The 2025 edition also brings a fleet upgrade, with 11 new Matahina canoes sourced from Tahiti joining the competition. The Matson Vaka Eiva continues through to Saturday, the 29th of November.
