Building skills, confidence and community on the water
WĀHINE ON WATER | SEA KAYAKERS
Wāhine on Water | Sea Kayakers (WoW SK)
is a collective that aims to build community, support skills development, and encourage leadership in women sea kayakers in Aotearoa/New Zealand. All women sea kayakers are welcome to join our community and attend WoW SK events.
Our community
WoW SK WhatsApp Community
Find event details, trip reports and announcements here, as well as regional groups. If you’d like to join, fill out the form below and include your mobile number.
WoW SK Searchable Directory
Our searchable directory connects you with women sea kayakers in your local area or find a paddle buddy if you’re traveling in New Zealand or overseas.
New Zealand Women’s Sea Kayak Network
Join this Facebook group for general discussions, and event announcements.
WoW SK WhatsApp Community
Find event details, trip reports and announcements here, as well as regional groups. If you’d like to join, fill out the form below and include your mobile number.
WoW SK Searchable Directory
Our searchable directory connects you with women sea kayakers in your local area or find a paddle buddy if you’re traveling in New Zealand or overseas.
New Zealand Women’s Sea Kayak Network
Join this Facebook group for general discussions, and event announcements.
“The success of every woman should be the inspiration to another. We should raise each other up.
Make sure you’re very courageous: be strong, be extremely kind, and above all be humble.”
— SERENA WILLIAMS
We will call you on WhatsApp to have a chat as part of adding you to our network.
Our events
Monthly online meetings
Join us once a month for an online meeting to hear from inspiring women speaking about their journeys and adventures or teaching important skills and considerations for your sea kayaking journeys and adventures.
Saturday 20 June 8.30 - 9.30 am
The Slow Paddle – An Epic Journey!
Bring your Saturday morning coffee to a session with Abigail Hannah Naylor sharing her experience of paddling from Cape Reinga to Mission Bay with husband Isaac, raising money for Lifeline NZ and Sustainable Coastlines.
Saturday 11 July 8:30am - 10am
Let’s get W.E.T. !!
Preparing for your paddling trip
Dallas Veitch presents the basics of trip planning and safety: preparing to get on the water, understanding marine forecasts, gear, and more. This is an updated repeat of a popular session from 2025.
Wednesday 19 August 7.00 - 8.30pm
Te Ara Moana
Fiona Heenan shares top tips on one of Auckland’s best kayak trails
Saturday 13 September 8.30 -10.00am
Packing for a kayak adventure
Diana Galbraith shares tips and tricks for packing a kayak and preparing for an overnight expedition.
Past online events
Saturday 30 May – 8.30 – 9.30am
SURF! SURF! SURF! Surf Sirenz and understanding the surf zone
A session with Kiley Dyke with the low down on the surf zone and helping us understand this dynamic environment.
Saturday 18 April 9.00 - 10.30am
WOW SK: WHERE TO NOW? A year in review and future directions
WoW SK made it through its first year! Guided by feedback from our survey, now have an exciting five-year plan to light the way ahead. The online presentation and discussion is available on YouTube. Please contact us if you’d like access to the recording.
18 February 7.00 – 8.30pm
Training not Straining
An motivational session on developing your paddling strength and fitness before you launch!
Presented by: Jo & Andy Thompson
3 February 2026 7.00 – 8.30pm
The Passage Paddle & Standards
An inspiring report back from Whitney Frame about her extraordinary Passage Paddle adventure from Canada up to Alaska with a group of women paddlers.
The meeting opened with Dallas Veitch talking us through the new KASK sea kayaking standards.
20 SEPT 2025 / 8:30AM
Buying a boat panel discussion
check out our panel discussion on how to select a kayak that’s right for you and how to avoid pitfalls. With Laura Zulliger, Dan O’Connor and David Welch.
30 AUG 2025 / 8:30AM
Tides and Currents
Learn how tides and currents affect our paddling (including how NOT to get stuck in the mud in a tidal estuary!). Kiley Dyke.
Let’s get W.E.T.—
preparing for your paddling trip
W: Wind, waves, water, weather
E: Equipment
T: Tell someone
Dallas Veitch, 13 July 2025.
Awareness on the Water —
Keeping You and Your Group Safe
Caitlin Gillespie, 29 June 2025.
Cape to Cape
Lynnis Burson, 26 May 2025.
Coming soon: View slides
The Paddle Passage
Empowering women and protecting our planet one paddle stroke at a time.
Whitney Frame, 28 April 2025.
In person gatherings
Join us for a weekend of skills development and review, community building, and FUN.
5 – 6 December 2026
Building Skills in Dancing Water
Surf Sirenz🧜🏻 Ahoy! Join us at Pukatea/Whites Bay, Marlborough to develop your skills and confidence as the water becomes more lively. The training will be led by Deb Volturno with an awesome team of instructors.
Past in-person events
22 – 24 April 2026
Surf SireNZ, Waihi Kayak Surf Fest
A two day training event at Waihi Beach under the leadership of Deb Volturno, towards developing confidence in the surf zone and the rocky coastline. The event was delivered as part of Waihi Surf Kayak Fest.
21 – 23 NOV 2025
Mārahau development weekend
The 2nd event in our 2025-2026 weekend development series. Led by Kiley Dyke, with assistant coaches Michael Brickwedde, Louisa Mueller and Julia Trow.
17 – 19 OCT 2025
Raglan development weekend
The first event in our 2025-2026 development weekend series. Led by our national coach Kiley Dyke, assistant coaches Caitlin Gillespie and Laura Duxbury; and hosted by Jilliene Beale.
Get in touch
Together we paddle, together we grow
If you’d like to find out more
please fill in the form below and we will get back to you shortly.
Me aro koe ki te hā o Hine-ahu-one.
Pay heed to the dignity and power of women.