The rain stayed away long enough for people of all ages to try waka paddling at Karitane on Saturday.
Hauteruruku ki Puketeraki waka club secretary Suzi Flack said the event, at the mouth of the Waikouaiti River, was about giving families a chance to experience the increasingly popular sport.
''I think the biggest thing about waka is it's for the whole family, it's whanau. We have got a 74-year-old here and we have got an under-5-year-old here.
''There is a space on the waka for everybody,'' she said.
Children and adults also got a chance to try the club's stand-up paddleboards. The event was also about promoting healthy lifestyles, and Smokefree provided support.
''Hauteruruku club is about being healthy on the water and connecting with the water, so we want to keep our water clean and healthy and we also want our people to be healthy.''
Ella Stewart (7) said Saturday was the first time she had been on a waka and it was ''really fun''.
She said she enjoyed being on the water with her family.
Fire in Ice outrigger canoe club president Greg Page said the sport was becoming increasingly popular in the Dunedin area.
