It is important to note, that there were about 2300 people at Nationals, and 334 responses to the survey, so the results below only represent 13% of the people in attendance. This means the results are in no way, an accurate picture of the event, but they do allow us to get a broad idea of where things are at, and which issues need to be addressed

Due to the number of comments, I have summarized the most frequent requests.

1. Did you attend the 2009 Waka Ama Sprint Nationals (334 answers / 0 skipped)

Yes		89%
No		11%

2. Were you a paddler, coach or manager at this regatta (290 answers / 44 skipped)

Yes		86%
No		14%

3. Which age division are you in (230 answers / 104 skipped)

Midget		2%
Intermediate		4%
J16		3%
J19		5%
Open 23		2%
Open		28%
Master		30%
Snr Master		12%
Golden Master		2%
Coach/Manager		10%
Rather not say		2%

4. Did you feel you feel you got value for money (221 answers / 113 skipped)

Yes		75%
No		25%

Comments

• Costs too much
• Not enough races for those unable to race multiple divisions (eg open)

5. Some of the days were rather long, and this is because the number of teams and races keeps increasing
(particularly the junior teams).

If it was up to you, what option would you choose to reduce the number of races. (218 answers / 116 skipped)

Reduce number of W1 races, and do an extra half day of W6 racing for juniors		4%
Introduce quota for W6 teams		16%
Start racing on Monday		50%
Other (please specify)		30%

Comments

• Minimize number of delays
• Only allow people to race in one division
• Reduce W1 quota
• Regional Volunteers not showing up on time caused delays
• Remove Open 23 division
• Don't introduce W6 quota

6. Do you like the fact that junior and senior races are kept to separate days, or would you prefer to combine them, so that all the finals would be held on the last day(227 answers / 107 skipped)

Keep Juniors and Seniors on separate days		90%
Combine them		10%

Comments

• Entry fees are too high
• Entry fee plus parking fee is too much
• Not enough races for people who can only do 1 division (eg open)
• Course lane markers were missing
• Too many delays
• Not enough toilets

7. Please indicate which days you were there (228 answers / 106 skipped)

Tuesday		58%
Wednesday		70%
Thursday		82%
Friday		93%
Saturday		91%

8. What type of accommodation did you use (227 answers / 107 skipped)

Tent/Camping		34%
Marae/Whanau/Friends/Family		22%
Hotel/Motel		31%
Other		21%

9. Were you happy with the facilities at the venue (222 answers / 112 skipped)

Yes		76%
No		24%

Comments

• Need drinking water fountains
• Toilets, not enough, not cleaned enough, too far away
• Showers, always cold, dirty
• More shade tents required in marshalling and loading bay
• More rubbish bins
• Put portaloos back at loading bay

10. Were you happy with the car parking access (218 answers / 116 skipped)

Yes		83%
No		17%

Comments

• Day pass outs (so we don't have to pay several times on same day)
• Week passes at a reduced rate
• Free parking in afternoon
• Drop off area, really good
• Receipts for parking money, so reimbursements can be claimed
• Lack of disability parking

11. Were you happy with the range of vendors (218 answers / 116 skipped)

Yes		55%
No		45%

Comments

• Healthy food options
• Need more variety
• Big Vendor tent was empty
• Bring vendors to bottom of hill
• Need entertainment, not just vendors
• Price is too high

12. How did you watch the Waka Ama Nationals (296 answers / 38 skipped)

Was at the venue		87%
On Internet Via Waka Ama Website		13%
Maori TV		30%
Newspaper Articles		7%

13. What time would you like racing to start each day (296 answers / 38 skipped)

7:00am		17%
7:30am		44%
8:00am		30%
8:30am		7%
9:30am		2%
9:30am		0%

14. What time would you like racing to finish each day (294 answers / 40 skipped)

3:30pm		9%
4:00pm		25%
4:30pm		21%
5:00pm		29%
5:30pm		6%
6:00pm		5%
6:30pm		5%

15 Do you like the event being held in January (218 answers / 116 skipped)

Yes		71%
No		29%

• Great weather to hit the water
• Too close to xmas / new year
• Change to late Jan or Feb
• Change to early Dec
• Good due to annual leave and school holidays
• Financial strain of xmas too close
• Difficult to get people to training over holidays

16 Did you enjoy the event (218 answers / 116 skipped)

Yes, It Rocked		54%
It was alright		40%
No, I was disappointed		6%

17 If you could pick one thing that needs improvement what would it be? (223 answers / 111 skipped)

Comments

• Communication
• Graffiti issue should have been dealt with better
• Consistent Start Procedure
• Reduce delays in racing
• Free Sun block
• Some officials need better communication/people skills
• medal ceremonies too long
• map of venue/signage
• intoxicated people at adult social
• better flow between marshalling, boat loading and on-the-water
• results/progressions were too slow
• ID Card delays
• Marketing and promotion to general public
• Better enforcement of rules (one rule for all across the board)
• Enough regional volunteers showing up on time
• Pronunciation of names
• Not enough support boats
• DQ Cameras on Start line
• Midget/Intermediate races, earlier in the day
• Sound system needs to be improved

18 Anything else you would like to say? (192 answers / 142 skipped)

Comments

• Thanks to all the effort from the volunteers
• Loved the Band at the social
• Where was Maggie
• Need to re-evaluate the race calendar
• Look at emergency procedures from Wednesday evening
• Put big screens in vendor tents
• Great TV coverage