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Canoe & Kayak Ltd has been introducing people to the exciting sport of kayaking since 1994.

We had a strong desire to see as many people enjoying the sport as possible and soon created the Yakity Yak Kayak Club to ensure that new paddlers not only continued in the sport but also created a great camaraderie and close friendships.

This philosophy is still the backbone of the company today; to provide a friendly and enthusiastic environment for people to learn kayaking, continually improve skills and knowledge and above all have great fun.

Canoe & Kayak has now grown to be New Zealand’s largest kayaking company. With eight specialist owner-operated kayak stores in Auckland, North Shore, Botany, Taupo, Taranaki, Hamilton, Bay of Plenty, and Wellington.

All our staff are passionate about kayaking and are highly trained in product knowledge and kayak instruction.

Canoe & Kayak are proud to run comprehensive kayak instruction courses covering a wide range of disciplines from white water to multisport and sea kayaking. We make sure our customers not only have the best kayaking gear but are safe and competent paddlers as well.

Canoe & Kayak started publication of Kayak New Zealand magazine in 1997. This popular magazine is specifically tailored for kayaking. Check out the ‘Kayak Magazine’ link on the left for details on how to subscribe and details of previous issues.

We hope this website assists you in enjoying the wonderful sport of kayaking!

Peter Townend
Director

Sponsors of, or Members of.

Sam Ricketts

Whitewater adventurer

Meet the team at Canoe & Kayak

Auckland

Greg & Debbie Homburg: Owner/ Operator

Greg was born in New Zealand but raised in South Africa in the ’70s.  Greg has always enjoyed the outdoors and has been on Outward Bound, Spirit of Adventure, has done various caving and climbing activities and parachuting.

Greg’s current adventure started in 2018 when he joined Canoe & Kayak as Store Manager and Greg and Debbie are now proud to be owners of Canoe & Kayak, Auckland.  Having been taught by Russell and Larraine Williams on the Sea Kayak Skills Course and Surf Management, Greg got his first Sea Kayak (a Wainui) in December 2018. Greg is keen to start his leaders’ training in 2019.  2019 – 2020 will see Greg complete his MBA.

Greg and his wife Debbie are honoured to have taken over Larraine and Russell’s legacy and looks to also introduce many paddlers to the joy of kayaking and exploring New Zealand’s beautiful coastline and islands.

We are a kayak store selling kayaks for New Zealand conditions and would love to meet you in person.  Feel free to pop in.

Botany

Bradley White: Sales, Roof Rack Technician

Connor Holliday: Sales, Roof Rack Technician

Hannah Thomas: Sales

North Shore

Callum McMahon: Sales, Roof Rack Technician

Frits Beneka: Sales, Roof Rack Technician

John Wilson: Sales, Roof Rack Technician

Allan Mears: Sales, Roof Rack Technician

Jonno Thomasoro: Sales, Roof Rack Technician

 

Waikato

Amanda Barrett: Store Manager/Website Admin

Matt Williams: Sales, Roof Rack Technician

Dylan Brosnahan: Sales, Roof Rack Technician

Bay of Plenty

Dave Atkins: Owner/ Operator 

Dave Atkins moved to New Zealand in March 2011 after working in the kayaking industry in manufacturing and retailing for the last 12 years in
the UK.
From a young age he paddled in K1 racing kayaks and then competed in slalom and his skills developed in to white water kayaking. He is a skilled sea kayaker too and has a passion for kayak surfing here in the Mount.
As a highly qualified NZKI Level 5 instructor Dave is the man behind all the tuition courses and the assessments. His ability to teach others is second to none and his technical knowledge and abilities means he can advise beginners right through to advanced and even competitive paddlers.

Taupo

Jay Sayer: Store Owner

Jay was born in Taupo but has also lived in British Columbia, Canada and Auckland. He loves the outdoors and has spent many years balancing skiing in winter with windsurfing in summer and cycling the rest of the time. Having finally returned to Taupo he is crazy about the opportunities available when there is a lake on one side of the store and a river behind, and some stunning mountain biking in every direction. He can be spotted on his RED 11’ Sport SUP on quiet days – yep, even in the middle of winter.

Jay and his team offer guided tours on Lake Taupo and the Waikato River as well as running courses for multisport, whitewater, sea kayaking and sit-on-top kayaks. Through the Roof Rack Centre they are a sponsor of Craters Mountain Bike Park (look out for ZIP) as well as supporting many events in the region.

Taranaki

Peter & Bronnie van Lith

Wellington

Andy Blake: Owner/ Operator

Andy was with Canoe & Kayak North Shore, in the early days, where he worked as a Sea Kayak Instructor and Guide.  He has been working with Canoe & Kayak Wellington since it opened and has helped develop it into a sound well run, operation.
He is a keen paddler with 18 years paddling experience, and as all the Wellington Yakity Yak Kayak Club members will tell you he is completely at home in the outdoors, a great cook which gives him an A+ rating on all trips. He has circumnavigated D’Urville Island, Stewart Island, Kapiti Island and the Kadavu Island group in Fiji. He has also paddled in the Soloman Islands where he took four of the locals through their NZKI Sea Kayaking assessments. He says “My favourite paddling locations are Fiordland and Stewart Island. “I’m looking at a circumnavigation of Great Barrier Island and MAYBE the Chathams.”
He has gained many qualifications over the years; SKOANZ Level One, New Zealand Army AATC Intermediate Sea Kayak Course, NZKI Sea Kayaking Instructor 5 Star Assessor, SKOANZ Committee Member.
Canoe & Kayak and Roof Rack Centers are a complex mix of things but number one to all of us is treating each customer as you would a close friend.  Giving good honest advice and knowing as the customer walks out the door that you have helped them. This is something that Andy has always done and if you need some help getting the right piece of equipment, then pop in and see Andy and his team.

Richard Gordon