Paddling Through Bluespaces: Understanding Waka Ama as a Post-Sport Through Indigenous Māori Perspectives

Abstract

In this article, I review and revive the concept of post-sport in the intersecting contexts of oceanic bluespace and Māori waka ama [outrigger canoe] paddling. In doing so, I seek to achieve two objectives: first, to enrich understanding of the human–nature interaction in bluespaces and, second, to contribute to an indigenous reading of post-sport experiences. Drawing on ethnographic and interview data from waka ama paddling in oceanic bluespaces, I identify two instances where sets of boundaries common in sport studies—the boundaries between human and nature, and between sport and physical culture—are challenged and transgressed. Furthermore, I reflect on the limitation of applying post-sport in this study and propose a potentially new perspective to conceptualize post-sport for future research.