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Story: Canoeing and rafting

White-water thrills

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White-water thrills

New Zealand’s rivers have some of the best white-water runs in the world, with plenty of challenges for experienced kayakers. Many of the rapids have been given colourful names, such as this one on the Karamea River, which is called ‘Roaring Lion’. Al Wood is nearing the end of this rapid.

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NZ Recreational Canoeing Association

by Jonathan Hunt

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How to cite this page

Nancy Swarbrick, Canoeing and rafting – Rafting and kayaking since the 1980s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/13089/white-water-thrills (accessed 3 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 2 March 2009, updated 18 July 2016.