Dawson & Associates sponsoring Waka Ama athlete Callum Sebualala-O'Leary

Dawson & Associates is sponsoring Waka Ama athlete Callum Sebualala-O'Leary in his quest to represent Aotearoa/New Zealand at the World Sprint Championships in Singapore in August 2026.

Waka Ama is the sport of outrigger canoeing. It is rooted in Māori and Pacific culture and is one of New Zealand’s fasted growing sports.

Callum is an outdoor instructor, coach and teacher, and you can read more about him on our Community page.

 Lake Karapiro Sprint Nationals

Most recently Callum has attended the 2026 Waka Ama Sprint Nationals at Lake Karapiro. The event attracted 800 more paddlers than last year, with a total of almost 5,000 participants, marking a first in the sport's history and making it one of the biggest sporting events in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

President of Waka Ama Aotearoa NZ (WAANZ), Lara Collins, stated "To see an increase in paddlers from 2025, with our rangatahi (young people) numbers on the rise, it shows just how powerful this sport has become for whānau (family) and communities across Aotearoa."

Commitment to growing Waka Ama in Nelson

Most recently Callum has been offered a new part time role by Whakatū Marae in Nelson as a Kaiwhakatere Hauora Waka Ama (which translates as ‘person who uplifts health through Waka Ama’), engaging the community and promoting the sport locally.