South Island Rowing

22/06/2026

National Volunteer Week has come to an end, so it’s the perfect time to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who gives their time, energy, and passion to help others and our sport.
Over 53% of New Zealanders volunteer in some way each year — and we’re proud to say our rowing community is right up there with them.
Here is just a glimpse at what our volunteers make happen:
🚤 100+ regular volunteers who are race officials, boat drivers, safety boat personnel, numbers hut, secretary's office, boat holding, hospitality & retail
Also the fabulous team who volunteer at our regular working bees to ensure our complex is up & humming for the regatta season
🏅 Supporting over 2000 athletes across the season
📅 Across 9 national and regional regattas held at Lake Ruataniwha
⏱️ And more than 16,000 volunteer hours
No matter where you spend your time during a regatta or how you support things behind the scenes, no matter how big or small your contribution or the skills you bring — you are the backbone of everything we do.
We truly couldn’t do it without you. From all of us to all of you good sorts — thank you for going above and beyond

15/05/2026

Some fantastic work being done by the Twizel Heritage Machinery Group. The collection tells many stories, and is part of Twizel‘s fabric. Ka rawe!

Several big donations and new arrivals have increased the size of an already impressive collection of earthmoving machinery in Canterbury.

08/05/2026

Volunteers are the backbone of everything we do at SIR and so it’s fantastic to see Christine’s contribution over many years recognised in this way. Thank you for your care, energy and tenacity Christine - hopefully we will be lucky to have many more years of your service to rowing and share in your experience and knowledge 🩵

🏆 Timaru District Council Outstanding Lifetime Achievement
Recipient: Christine Moffat

Christine Moffat has provided decades of service to rowing at club, regional, and national level. She is in her third year as President of the Canterbury Rowing Association and its first female president. She contributes through umpiring, supporting international team travel, and major event delivery, including 20 years as Regatta Controller at New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships, with lasting impact across the South Island region.

👏 Congratulations Christine on an incredible legacy in rowing

29/03/2026

Thank you to the Twizel community and everyone for such a great week of racing for the Rowing NZ Maadi Regatta and the memorable moments! Ka kite anō, see you next time 👋🏼

28/03/2026

Maadi Regatta
Racing has now been completed, and the lake is open for boating.
Thank you for your co-operation this week.

Karl Morgan
Regatta Control

24/03/2026

Rowing NZ Maadi Finals parking!!! Get your tickets at the link below and make it a speedy process at the gate 👌🏼 

Maadi Regatta 2026 - Finals Parking Tickets $15/day or $25 for Friday and Saturday Parking for Heats, Reps and Semi-Finals is free Funds raised from Parking are reinvested into the South Island Rowing Facilities and to also support athletes working on the gate to attend international regatta...

24/03/2026

Racing Update from South Island Rowing:

We are aware of potential upcoming weather disruption. To mitigate this, we are bringing events 10 - 13 forward to today. Events 1 - 13 this afternoon will be run at 4-minute intervals.

The order of these events has been changed to minimise clashes. Event 30 will remain at the end of the day.
Daysheet on rowIT will be updated shortly. Please ensure you check these changes.

Coxswains who will have already weighed in for today will have their weight carried forward to the additional races.

Those in the races 10-13 who have not raced today will need to weigh at 1-2 hours before the newly published race times.

Wednesday is likely to be at 4-minute intervals, with some races from early Thursday brought into the end of Wednesday.

South Island Rowing

22/03/2026

A fantastic way to start the week

08/03/2026

Lake Ruataniwha Lake Closure
Meridian South Island Secondary Schools

The regatta is now complete and the lake is open

Thank you for your support and co-operation
Regatta Control

04/03/2026

2026 Meridian South Island Secondary Schools Championships
Lake Closure
Please be advised that in accordance with the Ecan Navigation Safety Bylaws, Lake Ruataniwha will be closed to power driven vessels for the Meridian South Island Secondary Schools Championships on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th March 2026
The lake will remain closed after racing on Saturday to allow for crew training.
Lake reopening at the completion of racing on Sunday will be advised on the South Island Rowing page.
Your cooperation with the above closure is greatly appreciated in order to allow this event to take place.
Karl Morgan
Regatta Control