Wairoa River ramps it up with boat races back in action
Powerboat and water ski racing returns to the Wairoa River, giving the flood-weary Hawke’s Bay town a reason to gather, remember, and enjoy itself for a weekend.
Once a familiar sight on the Wairoa River, powerboat and water ski racing is returning after more than a decade.
What’s at stake? A community-run river racing weekend is drawing visitors and spending into Wairoa while giving locals a chance to gather around something positive.
Background: Wairoa last hosted regular bridge-to-bridge-style water ski racing more than a decade ago, before rising costs and volunteer pressure forced it to stop.
Main players: School teacher and organiser Robert ‘Milky’ Hamblyn, Glen ‘Tubs’ Vincent, TM Promotions, local sponsors, the Te Wairoa Commissioning Table, and the Ian Reeves Memorial Race.
The Wairoa River has not always been a place of caution and concern. There was a time when it drew crowds for speed, noise, and competition – when people gathered along its banks for something other than flood updates, damage assessments, and recovery meetings.
Sign up to get the latest stories and insights delivered to your inbox – free, every day.
Key points
What’s at stake? A community-run river racing weekend is drawing visitors and spending into Wairoa while giving locals a chance to gather around something positive.
Background: Wairoa last hosted regular bridge-to-bridge-style water ski racing more than a decade ago, before rising costs and volunteer pressure forced it to stop.
Main players: School teacher and organiser Robert ‘Milky’ Hamblyn, Glen ‘Tubs’ Vincent, TM Promotions, local sponsors, the Te Wairoa Commissioning Table, and the Ian Reeves Memorial Race.
