New Zealand will take a squad of 38 across for the Waka Ama Elite Championships to Australia in May. The team was selected after an intense week of paddling at the Waka Ama Nationals at Karāpiro and today we take a closer look at the Men's team.
Leading the 13-man team is Tupu King, who has been New Zealand's top paddler for three years and will be an integral part of the New Zealand men's team.
Brad Anderson from Ngāpuhi was another easy selection.
He has been one of New Zealand's top paddlers for a number of years, winning a bronze at the 2012 Worlds in Calgary.
ga toa W6 kotahi mano rima rau mita te roa i tēnei tau.
Tyrin Thomas is no stranger to winning gold. He still holds the record for the number of national titles for W1 premier Men, five from 2006-2010.
Thomas snatched another gold this year with his club team, Bhutty Boys, taking out the W6 1500m final.
The Herbert brothers Sean and Conan from Pawarenga is the only sibling pairing in the team who come with a vast amount of experience and long family history in the sport.
The oldest in the team are Paddy Rimene and Richard Pehi, Richard just beat Paddy in the final of the W1 Master at the Nationals. But both have shown their calibre during the trial period in the last few months.
Making up the rest of the team is Napolean Eketone, Dan Firth, Nona Taute Hohepa, Mark Malaki Williams, Stephen Roultson and Jamille Ruka.