About

About Aoraki Dragons

Powering dragon boating across Te Waipounamu since 2007.

The Aoraki Dragon Boat Association, known as the Aoraki Dragons, is the heart of dragon boating in the South Island. We are the collective of adult, youth and school teams who make this incredible sport happen.

We are one of only four Regional Sports Organisations for dragon boating in New Zealand. We operate under the New Zealand Dragon Boat Association (NZDBA), which is affiliated to the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF), the worldwide governing body for our sport. We are proudly governed by a dedicated nine-person volunteer Board of Management.

On the Water

Our fleet is built for growth. We maintain fifteen 20-paddler boats and six 10-paddler boats across four training locations in and around Christchurch and north of the city, with additional boats based in Dunedin and Blenheim. It is the infrastructure that lets new teams launch and established teams thrive.

The Season

The paddling season runs from October to April, with some crews training right through winter. Teams train hard against each other all season, building to our pinnacle events: the South Island Championships in mid to late March and the National Championships in late March to early April.

How We Operate

Aoraki Dragons is powered by its members. Member teams pay an annual subscription to maintain membership with Aoraki Dragons and affiliation to the NZDBA. Those funds are carefully managed by the Board to maintain our fleet and safety equipment, deliver high-quality race events, and cover core costs including insurance.

As a registered charity (Charities Services No. CC54814), we also actively seek charitable funding to invest in our future, continually enhancing our fleet, equipment and facilities for the next generation of paddlers.

Our Vision

For dragon boating to be a highly respected, competitive sport that champions team building and participation throughout Te Waipounamu, the South Island.

Our Mission

We will achieve our vision by:

•  Delivering exceptional events: Running safe, high-quality, fair and fun events for paddlers, spectators and organisers

•  Championing inclusion: Encouraging diversity across all ages, from youth to veterans, and all abilities

•  Growing our reach: Actively developing teams beyond Christchurch to be a truly South Island association

•  Building capability: Sharing coaching, leadership and management expertise to help new teams form and existing teams excel

•  Pursuing high performance: Developing regional representative squads across all divisions and classes, creating pathways for Aoraki paddlers into national teams and international regattas

•  Investing in the future: Securing sustainable funding to continually improve our fleet, equipment and facilities

Looking to paddle in another region?

Auckland Dragon Boat Association - Home (aucklanddragonboats.co.nz)

Waikato Dragonboating and Waka Ama Association - Home (sporty.co.nz)

Central Region Dragon Boat Association - Home (weebly.com)

Eastern Region Dragon Boat Association - Home (sporty.co.nz)