A strong cultural atmosphere is being given as the reason behind the rapid growth of high schools and kura kaupapa taking up Waka Ama.
For the 12th year, schools will compete in the four-day secondary schools' canoe racing competition being held in Rotorua next week.
Ninety schools are taking part, the highest number yet.
The organisers are surprised how rapidly the competition has grown.
Chief executive of Waka Ama New Zealand Lara Collins says there is a strong Maori and Pacific Island participation, which gives the competition a whanau feel.
She says there will be more than 15-hundred competitors in Rotorua and the goal is to have one-hundred schools sign up for 2014.
Lower Hutt's Taita College has recently taken up the sport.
The captain of its under-16 girls team, Jordin Hetaraka, says she feels as if she is representing her Maori tupuna who voyaged to New Zealand when she is out on the water in the waka.
She says Waka Ama is a lot of fun and a challenge, and more and more people are getting in to it.
About 3000 people are expected to attend the event from Tuesday to Friday.
