River Queens: Highlight My Strengths

A group of young female paddlers compete in the national sprint championships on the Whanganui river, and learn about team work, passion and heart from their coach and mentor who also provides them with a Māori world view.

At 76 years old, former New Zealand national coach and paddler Howard Hyland returns to his roots to start a competitive waka ama club for youth on the Whanganui River - the first river in the world to be granted legal personhood.

Follow Hyland and his fledgling team from their three-week training camp to the national sprint champions as the story of their relationships with each other, the sport and the river that provides them a unique training ground.