Born and raised in Tahiti, Raipoia Brightwell learned to paddle an outrigger canoe from a very early age. This was a recreational activity and everyone could paddle a fishing canoe. She did not start paddling competitively until 1989.
In 1985 she was part of the land support team for the Hawaiki Nui voyage where her husband, Matahi and father Francis Cowan sailed from the Society Islands to Aotearoa. The success of this voyage set the scene to introduce Waka ama to New Zealand. She settled in New Zealand with her husband and together laid the foundations for the sport to grow and develop.
In 1987 the national organisation was formed, known as Tatou Hoe o Aotearoa where Raipoia was the first secretary. She was also instrumental in supporting her husband to form the Mareikura Canoe Club, the first of NZ’s waka ama clubs.
The first national waka ama regatta was held in New Zeland in 1990 with 43 teams from 17 clubs racing at Lake Karapiro. The distances raced at this event were 3000m and 500m. In 2021 over 3500 paddlers from 65 clubs participated in the national championships contesting multiple event distances. Raipoia has amassed multiple national titles in both single and team events across multiple age groups. She has attended every national championship event since 1990. Her national success has been emulated with world champion success where she has accumulated multiple world titles in every age group category between 1990 – 2018.
Over her 30 years involved with her club she has continued to coach and inspire 100’s of young paddlers to develop their skills and watch many go on to achieve their own national championship and world championship successes. In addition to coaching young paddlers with her club she was instrumental in running local primary and intermediate school regattas. Any opportunity to share her knowledge and experience with youth is embraced with true passion and commitment.
In 2019 Raipoia was inducted into the Waka ama Hall of Fame in recognition of her leadership as a coach, administrator, driver of the sport and successful paddler. She is respected by all, locally, nationally and internationally for her contribution to the sport and is considered a ‘true legend of waka ama’. Her greatest supporter is her husband Matahi who has inspired her from the very beginning.