November update

Kia kaha, Kia māia, Kia manawanui

Sport is the pathway, but life is the journey.

Kia ora te whānau

As we move into the warmer months, there's exciting momentum building across our group, with Tātai Whetū athletes achieving outstanding results that reflect the strength of Canterbury's sporting pathways.

Leading our kōrero this month, three Tātai Whetū rangatahi brought pride to our community at the 2024 Aoraki Secondary School Sports Awards, with Sophie Gibson winning Female Rowing, Phoebe McKenzie claiming the Smallbore Rifle Shooting category, and Holly-Jayne Feutz named as a tennis finalist. These achievements showcase the strength of our youth sporting pathways and the bright future ahead for sport in Waitaha Canterbury.

Adding to our region's sporting successes, we celebrate Ruby Hale's selection to the Wellington Phoenix Academy - a significant achievement for wahine football in Canterbury. Ruby's accomplishment creates inspirational pathways for our upcoming kōhine players.

Supporting these achievements is our valued partnership with Pure Nutrition, a Canterbury-owned and operated business that understands the hauora needs of developing athletes. Their mahi alongside our athletes exemplifies the community-focused partnerships that strengthen Tātai Whetū's development programmes.

These successes highlight how our holistic approach to athlete development - weaving together technical training, strength and conditioning, mental skills, and nutrition - helps create well-rounded rangatahi who excel both in their sport and in their hapori. Ka rawe team!

Ngā mihi nui,

Ged, Tayla, Jo, and Poppie

Aoraki Athletes find success

Three Tātai Whetū athletes have earned top recognition at the 2024 Aoraki Secondary School Sports Awards, highlighting the depth of sporting talent in our region's youth.

Sophie Gibson claimed the Female Rowing award, continuing the strong tradition of rowing excellence in Canterbury. Her achievement recognizes both her outstanding performances on the water and her dedication to training throughout the season.

In the Smallbore Rifle Shooting category, Phoebe McKenzie's precision and focus earned her the top honor, adding another accolade to her growing list of achievements in the sport. This recognition follows her consistent performances throughout the year.

Holly-Jayne Feutz was named as a finalist in the Tennis category, reflecting her strong presence on the court and commitment to developing her game. Her nomination acknowledges both her competitive results and her contribution to tennis in the region.

The annual Aoraki Secondary School Sports Awards celebrate the achievements of young athletes across Canterbury's southern regions, recognising excellence across multiple sporting codes. This year's ceremony featured alumna Shania Harrison Lee as guest speaker, bringing valuable insights to the next generation of sporting talent.

These results demonstrate the impact of sustained support and mentorship in developing young sporting talent. Each of these athletes embodies the Tātai Whetū values of dedication, excellence, and community connection.

The success of Sophie, Phoebe, and Holly-Jayne at these awards highlights the pathway available to young athletes in our region when talent meets opportunity and support. Their achievements will inspire other rangatahi to pursue their sporting dreams.

Ruby shines for the Phoenix

From playing for her local club, Coastal Spirit to the Wellington Phoenix U18 Squad, Ruby Hale's football journey showcases the heights our rangatahi can reach with dedication and support. The Avonside Girls’ High School student has had an exceptional year, earning selection to the New Zealand U16 Football training camp before catching the eye of Wellington Phoenix.

Behind Ruby's success stands a comprehensive support system, with Tātai Whetū playing a pivotal role in her development. Her mother, Andrea Hale, describes the programme as "a game changer" that has transformed Ruby's approach to both sport and personal development.

"Her maturity and confidence towards her physical and mental care has grown significantly," Andrea shares. "She had never gone to a gym prior to starting on the programme. She is still only 15 and I think she thought that was something only adults did." The programme's holistic approach, combining strength and conditioning with nutrition and mental health support, has opened new horizons for Ruby's athletic development.

The impact of this comprehensive support has been particularly evident in Ruby's physical training. "Sam in the gym has made the biggest difference for Ruby, as it's given her a lot more confidence in herself and on the sports field. It's made her feel stronger physically and mentally," Andrea explains. This newfound strength has contributed to Ruby's impressive performances both in football and her other sporting passion, Surf Life Saving.

What sets Tātai Whetū apart, according to Andrea, is its personalised approach to athlete development. "They are amazing in how they have guided Ruby but also ensured it's her making the choices on the programme," she notes. "Ruby chose a nutritionist and sport psychologist along with strength and conditioning because she thought this would benefit her best." This athlete-led approach has fostered not just physical development but overall personal growth.

For parents supporting young athletes, Andrea's experience offers valuable insights. "Unfortunately, I haven't had the knowledge or the resources to really help Ruby with her fitness," she reflects. "This programme has really provided all the knowledge and resources for Ruby to really take it up a level, and given her the support, encouragement and confidence she needed, not just for her health and fitness but general wellbeing."

Her advice to other parents of ambitious young athletes comes from a place of experience: "Find good guidance, listen to coaches and health professionals. Ask for resources available. Advocate for your child without putting pressure on them or their resource providers." Most importantly, she emphasises the need to "take direction from your child to ensure it's what they want and then do all you can to assist them. There's nothing more amazing than watching your child reach for their dreams."

The regular check-ins and supportive environment have been crucial to Ruby's development. "All the team members are so friendly and kind, they really make Ruby feel so comfortable which has helped her really develop, not just as an athlete but as whole person in general," Andrea shares.

When she's not training or competing, you might find Ruby enjoying her favourite sushi, watching '10 Things I Hate About You', or listening to SZA's 'Good Days' - perhaps a fitting soundtrack for this exciting chapter in her sporting career.

Before trading her Coastal Spirit black jersey for the Phoenix's yellow, Ruby will represent her home club one final time at the Western Springs U17 Tournament in Auckland. This tournament marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another as she prepares for her move to Wellington.

Ruby's progression through local football pathways to national recognition demonstrates the opportunities that can open up for our rangatahi when talent meets comprehensive support and determination. Her journey from Waitaha to Wellington will inspire other young athletes in our programme to chase their sporting dreams, supported by the kind of holistic development that Tātai Whetū provides.

We look forward to following Ruby's continued success as she takes this exciting next step in her football career. The stars of Waitaha will be shining bright in Wellington next season.

Pure Nutrition is a winner

When brother and sister duo Simon and Marewa Kraak couldn't find sports nutrition products that met their standards, they created their own. That was back in 2012, and today their company, PURE Sports Nutrition, has grown from a kitchen experiment to one of Canterbury's success stories. Their commitment to nurturing the next generation of athletes in Waitaha makes them an invaluable partner for our community.

As a proud sponsor of Tātai Whetū Waitaha, PURE Sports Nutrition plays a vital role in supporting our rangatahi on their sporting journey. This partnership carries special meaning through Marewa Sutherland (née Kraak), a qualified Sports & Exercise Nutritionist from Otago University and former elite road cyclist. Her background in competitive sports and nutrition brings deep understanding to the challenges young athletes face, particularly around proper nutrition and access to quality supplements.

The alignment between PURE and Tātai Whetū Waitaha flows naturally from their shared values. Both organisations work tirelessly to develop local talent and remove barriers that prevent young people from reaching their potential. PURE provides essential nutrition support while Tātai Whetū Waitaha delivers the guidance, mentorship, and community connections that help our rangatahi thrive.

PURE demonstrates their commitment to excellence through their state-of-the-art production facility in Canterbury. By controlling every aspect of product development and manufacturing, they maintain exceptional quality standards. Their focus on sourcing ingredients locally whenever possible strengthens other New Zealand businesses. When local options prove unavailable, they source globally - but their heart and operations remain firmly in Canterbury.

The partnership between PURE and Tātai Whetū Waitaha creates impact beyond basic nutrition support. It demonstrates to our young athletes the potential for local success, showcases Canterbury businesses investing in youth development, and highlights our community's dedication to nurturing talent. From the mountains to the plains, our region maintains a proud tradition of developing outstanding athletes and community leaders.

As Tātai Whetū Waitaha guides our rangatahi, PURE Sports Nutrition provides practical support for their journey. This collaboration strengthens the pathways for developing our next generation of community leaders, proving the power of local organisations supporting local talent.

PURE continues to expand, now offering over 70 products across two brands with a team of 25 dedicated staff. Yet they maintain strong connections to their Canterbury roots and their commitment to nurturing local talent. So next time you need some fuel for your workout, make it PURE.

Find us on socials

Social media is a great way to promote athlete successes and share what it's like to be part of our crew. Our posts are all about celebrating wins, and shouting out the hard work behind the scenes. 

We’d love your help. When you're posting about your sports journey or the awesome support you get from us, give us a tag. It helps more people find out about the cool stuff we're doing together. And don't forget to encourage your mates to follow us too. 

The bigger our online whānau gets, the better our chances are of scoring more funding to keep doing what we love. Let's make some noise and spread the word about Tatai Whetu Waitaha – it's all about supporting each other and growing together.

LinkedIn

Facebook

If you’re keen to donate, check out our website and hit the big red button!

Athlete feedback

We’re continuing to gather some feedback on the programme from our athletes. This will help us to identify where we are doing well, where we can do better, and how we are making a difference. We really appreciate the time taken, and this makes a big difference to how many we can help in the future.

If you’re an athlete or a parent, please fill out this survey below. This is really helpful for our programme leaders and allows us to support more athletes and ensure what we deliver is really targeted. Every athlete needs to do this survey.

He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.

As always, we're immensely grateful for your support in our journey. Together, we're making a real difference in the lives of these exceptional athletes.

Nāku iti nei,

Tātai Whetū Waitaha