29 Mar Oceania Cup 2023
I ngā rā whakatā i tū te whakataetae Nakawhiti Oceania Cup ki Tāmaki Makaurau.
He nui ngā tāngata i tae atu ki te korikori, ki te mātaki, ki te whakanui i ngā tātai whakapapa o te Moana Nui a Kiwa.
Ki a mātou o Toi Tangata he mea nui te whakatinana i te kōrero. Ko tō mātou Kaiwhakahaere Matua, ko Darrio Penetito-Hemara, tērā i whakatūwhera i te kaupapa, i te mihimihi me te karakia, ka mutu ko ia tērā i tae ki te mura o te ahi. Ka mihi hoki ki a Chanel Murray o tō mātou kaupapa, Growing the Puna, ko ia tērā i eke ki taumata kē.
We are excited to share with you the highlights from the inaugural Oceania Cup CrossFit Competition that took place recently. This event brought together athletes from across the Oceania region including Aotearoa Māori, Samoa, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Tonga, Niue, Fiji, New Zealand and Pasifika to compete in various categories, showcasing their strength, endurance, and overall fitness.
Here at Toi Tangata we believe in embodying our kaupapa and offer opportunities to support our kaimahi participation at national/regional events in korikori or kai related kaupapa. With the support of our organisation, our Kaiwhakahaere Matua, Darrio Penetito-Hemara, competed alongside his wife, Nikki, and their team for Aotearoa Māori.
The Aotearoa Māori team competed in the novice grade and made their presence known, ultimately coming home with the gold. The Aotearoa Māori team displayed an impressive level of skill, dedication, and teamwork throughout the competition, and their success is a testament to their hard work and commitment. A lot of the workouts required four person synchronised movements so if you didn’t have good communication you would have heard the deflating “no rep” call.
The team’s performance was particularly notable given the significance of the event. The inaugural Oceania Cup CrossFit Competition was not just a showcase of physical prowess, but also a celebration of cultural diversity and pride. The Aotearoa Māori team’s success not only represents their athletic achievements but also showcases the strength and spirit of their indigenous culture.
We also want to make a special mention to our Growing the Puna superstar Chanel Murray who took out the gold for the RX division with her New Zealand team.
As we reflect on the success of the Aotearoa Māori team, we are reminded of the power of korikori to bring people together, to celebrate diversity and culture, and to inspire excellence. Ko te Toi o te Tangata tērā! Their performance serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes and a source of pride for the wider Aotearoa Māori community.
We congratulate the Aotearoa Māori team on their outstanding performance at the inaugural Oceania Cup CrossFit Competition and wish them all the best in their future endeavours. We look forward to seeing more great achievements from them and from all the athletes who continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of fitness and sport.
Photo Credit: Crispy Dudes (https://www.facebook.com/CrispyDudes/)