GENERAL INFORMATION

Date

Saturday 30th August 2025 – Practice Day (Canoe Racing and Canoe Slalom)

Sunday 31st August and Monday 1st September 2025 – Canoe Slalom

Tuesday 2nd September 2025 – Canoe Racing

Venue

Practice day (Canoe Racing and Canoe Slalom) - McLaren Falls Park, McLaren Falls Road, Lower Kaimai, Tauranga

Canoe Slalom - McLaren Falls Park, McLaren Falls Road, Lower Kaimai, Tauranga

Canoe Racing – Pilot Bay, Mount Maunganui

Cost

$80.00 per paddler (NZ$)

The entry fee includes both the Canoe Slalom and Canoe Racing events, although paddlers can choose to only compete in one or the other if they prefer.

Entries Open

Online registrations open on Friday March 14th 2025, at 9:00 AM

Entries Close

Online registrations close on Wednesday May 28th 2025, at 7:59 PM

CONTACT

Email: info@nzaimsgames.co.nz

For Further Information

 Visit: http://www.canoeracing.org.nz/events

PLANNING INFORMATION

Costs

• Schools are required to pay the entry fee of $80.00 per paddler (NZ$).
• Paddlers may compete in both Canoe Racing and Canoe Slalom but must enter both divisions when registering.
• Strictly non-refundable.
• Payment MUST be made within seven days of receipt of invoice.
• Invoices will be sent to the school accounts manager after the entry closing date, Wednesday 28th May 2025.

Entries Close

• Wednesday 28th May 2025 at 7:59 PM.
• Entries to the 2025 Zespri AIMS Games must be submitted online through the online registration system. 
• Registrations will only be accepted from the school's designated Zespri AIMS Games Coordinator.
• Schools are allocated a unique Zespri AIMS Games registration log in code to complete their entries.

Competitor's Age

Competitors must be over 10 years of age and under 13 years of age, as at 31st December the year before the tournament year. Competitor’s birthdates will be required on school registration documentation. For the 2025 Zespri AIMS Games, the eligible birth years are 2012, 2013, and 2014.

Divisions

• Canoe Racing Year 7 Girls
• Canoe Racing Year 7 Boys
• Canoe Racing Year 8 Girls
• Canoe Racing Year 8 Boys

Multiple Sporting Codes

• Students may compete in more than one sporting code, provided they are in line with the permitted code crossovers. 
• Timetable allowances will not be made for any competitors, and it is the sole responsibility of the school to check for programming conflicts. 

PROGRAMME

Canoe Racing Venues

McLaren Falls Park (Practice Day venue)
​​​​​​​

• Thirty minutes’ drive out of Tauranga City is McLaren Falls Park, 190 hectares of pastoral and horticultural parkland set alongside Lake McLaren. 
• Around 300 sheep roam through the grassed areas so dogs are not permitted within McLaren Falls Park. Dogs are also not permitted to be left unattended in vehicles.
• The event is held at Top Flat in McLarens Falls.
• Please obey all security, marshals, pre-race communications and event staff.

Pilot Bay (Event Day venue)

• Edging Tauranga Harbour, beautifully tucked beneath Mauao, “The Mount”.

• Please obey all security, marshals, pre-race communications and event staff

Canoe Racing Event Day Schedule - Tuesday 2nd September

• Managers meeting - 8:45 AM

• Paddlers arrive – 9:00 AM to 9:30 AM (boats will be available to practice)

• Paddler briefing – 9:30 AM

• Racing begins – 10:00 AM

RULES

Canoe Racing format

• Event format will be the Kahawai Paddler X, where heats of up to 6 paddlers race from a start line in shallow water, around one or more buoys and back to a finish line adjacent to the start.
• Races aim to take 2-4 minutes and every paddler will compete in several races as they progress from heats through to division finals.
• Team relays (3 people) will follow completion of the individual events. Team relays will most likely be a mass start (depending on number of teams in each division entered).

General rules

1. There is no limit on the number of paddlers a school can enter in each division. 
2. There is no limit on the number of teams a school can enter in the team event, but each paddler may only participate in one team event each.
3. For all individual and team’s events to be constituted there must be a minimum of three entrants from at least two different schools. If these criteria are not met, then the entrants go into the next age group i.e., Year 7 would compete in the Year 8 event. If there are insufficient girls, then they will move into the boy’s event of the corresponding year or as above up a year group.
4. Wear clothing that is associated with your school.
5. Approved Lifejackets must be worn by all paddlers at all times on the water.
6. Please obey all marshals and briefings and park all vehicles in set areas.
7. All team managers are required to have their team medical forms with them during the event.
8. Team Managers are responsible for their parents and supporters.  Only team managers are permitted to speak to officials regarding racing incidents or result queries.
9. Please ensure that the safety and enjoyment of all competitors is of upmost importance.

Equipment rules

1. Paddlers will use surfski-style kayaks (open top) provided by organisers. Own kayaks are not permitted.
2. Paddles will also be provided.  Own paddles are not permitted.
3. Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)/Lifejackets will be provided and must be worn by paddlers at all times while on the water. Own PFDs are permitted but must be approved by Event Officials on race day to ensure it is of required safety standard and fit.
4. It is up to the paddler to ensure their equipment is correctly set up for them.

Health and safety

1. All participants, team managers and schools are reminded that they compete at their own risk and absolve the event director, all marshals, helpers and volunteers from any blame or claim.
2. Lifeguards will be located on water with radio coverage to event organisers in case of emergency.
3. Clear instruction to coaches/team managers will be given about the extent of the organisers responsibilities at the managers meeting.

Discipline - Team Relay event

1.  Schools to select teams comprising three boys or three girls in each year group (members are gender and year specific).
2. Team members can be of mixed gender and mixed year groups; however, they compete in the boys' team race of the eldest team member.
3. Canoe Racing NZ can put together mixed teams made up of different year groups, genders or schools, in order to include more paddlers, but these teams will not be eligible for school team prizes/medals.
4. All participants in the team event must have competed in the individual event.
5. The last opportunity to name or change teams will be at the team managers meeting with the exception of withdrawals due to injury or illness.

Event honours

• Medals are awarded for 1st, 2nd 3rd in each event provided the rules of event constitution are met.

MEDAL PRESENTATIONS

Individual and team event place getters for each year group/gender will be presented with their medals at the venue at completion of all races.