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Mid-Canterbury resident and netballer Makeleta Ula attributes much of her recent growth and confidence to the support she has received from the Tātai Whetū programme. Makeleta’s journey with Tātai Whetū Waitaha began with a focus on improving her physical strength and conditioning. "With strength and conditioning, I feel more powerful," she says. "Getting into the gym has really helped me last longer in the game and to actually put a lot more energy into the game." For her, the program has not only been about physical training but also about the mentorship provided by the Athlete Leads. "It’s really nice to have someone who was or who is still an athlete, who can talk to you, share experiences, and be able to relate to the process," she adds. But the impact of the programme extends beyond the court. Makeleta highlights the broad support network that has come into her life as a result of the program. "I didn’t have that before," she admits. "I only had my family and coach, but then being able to have other people to help in different areas has really helped." Family plays a central role in Makeleta's life, and their involvement in her journey with Tātai Whetū Waitaha has strengthened those ties even further. "My dad and my sister have been running the training sessions with me," she shares. "Sometimes they come to the meetings or are always asking me to update them about everything and making sure that I’m doing my trainings." This has fostered a stronger bond, especially with her sister. "It’s really good because we weren’t like that before, which is nice." The family's involvement didn’t stop at physical training. When it came to nutrition, Makeleta's family was all in. "I just told them what I needed and they got it, they accepted it," she says. "They themselves started eating like that as well, and even the members of the church learned more because my dad was talking about breakfast ideas. They found it exciting, and it is different from what they usually eat." Makeleta’s growth has not gone unnoticed in her community. She now finds herself in positions of leadership, whether it’s warming up junior netballers or engaging in community initiatives. "When Mid Canterbury asks me to do something, it helps me to give back to what they gave me, the opportunity they gave me," she reflects. "Being able to help them with something they need feels good." Her confidence has also spilled over into other areas, including her volunteer work with refugees. Makeleta credits Tātai Whetū Waitaha for giving her the assurance to lead a campaign at her school. "I guess I was really confident… and did a lot of speaking to a lot of the teachers and a lot of the students," she says. Looking ahead, Makeleta sees a bright future, one full of possibilities she once thought were out of reach. "Before this I thought I just had to do everything myself, but being able to do this has opened a lot of doors. I could see a lot of opportunities."
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