Waikato rowers in tune ahead of Great Race

In Tune: Rowers of the Waikato men’s and women’s crews practise their waiata for the Great Race official welcome being held on September 5.

The University of Waikato men’s and women’s rowing crews were in tune today as they practised their joint waiata for the Great Race official welcome being held next week.

The crews have been learning popular Māori song Ehara i te mea. The waiata will be sung in support of speeches made by the Waikato crew’s captains during the official welcome for the visiting men’s and women’s crews from Cambridge, Melbourne and Sydney universities.

The visiting crews have also been told to brush up on their singing skills as they too will be singing a song on the day.

The pōwhiri officially welcoming the visiting crews to the university and the region is held on Monday 5 September at the University of Waikato marae, Te Kohinga Mārama, beginning at 11am. All are welcome to attend.