Tu Tangi Ora was founded in 2008 by Israil Foreman (our current club chairman). Initially established to give Kaipara College students the opportunity to experience the fast-growing sport of waka ama, the club has grown from strength to strength and is now home to both junior and adult paddlers. 

Students at Kaipara College are invited to learn to paddle from Year 9 and make up the majority of Tu Tangi Ora Junior Paddlers J16 - J19. Under the guidance and coaching of Israil Foreman and more recently Nicole Stokes, Ryan Cooper, Niko Stokes, Jacob Lees and Nicola Reynolds, these students have achieved some excellent results, both nationally and internationally. 

Alongside our junior paddlers, we have a growing number of adult paddlers, some who paddle socially and others who enjoy competitive events. Many of our adult paddlers were drawn to the waka scene while supporting their children in the sport and several of them have continued to paddle well after their children have left Kaipara College.