Making Big Waves

By Frank Neill

Riana Le’afa-Paki in action.

Wainuiomata’s Rugby League girls are making big waves on the national scene.

Ten girls from the Nga Hau e Wha Wainuiomata Marae Rugby League Club were selected to represent New Zealand Māori at the Pasifika Youth Cup 2023 in Auckland.

Two of the girls, Riana L’afa-Paki and Te Ngaroahiahi were also been selected in the New Zealand Rugby League Youth Aotearoad Whaanui Girls under 16 team following the 2023 National Girls Youth tournament.

Two victories for Wainui girls

Two Wainuiomata players also featured in the Pasifika Youth Cup in Auckland on 7 and 8 October.

Zerenity Mill-Simpson was selected in the Aotearoa New Zealand Māori under 13 team which won their section of the tournament.

Kyla Pasene was selected in the Aotearoa New Zealand Māori under 15 team and they also

emerged victorious.

This tournment saw the Māori teams compete against Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands.

Another Wainuiomata player also featured in this competition. Victoria Tanoai was selected in the under 13 Samoa team.

The 10 Wainuiomata players who took part in the 2023 Pasifika Youth Cup were: Kyla Mere-

Pasene, Riana Le’afa-Paki, Billie Vaa, Zerenity Mill-Simpson, Te Raukura Leafe, Te Ngaroahiahi Rimoni, Indiana Russell Lia, Luca Bella Ngatuere Ongley, Brooke Jones and Maia Davis.

As well as representing Nga Hau e Wha, the girls all play in the club competition for the

Wainuiomata Rugby League Club.

Some of them also play Rugby Union, and are members of the Wainuiomata Rugby Football Club #NextGen girls.

Nga Hau e Wha was established in 2021, founded by Jemaine Pasene and Renee Davies.

In just two years it has established an impressive record.

It has fielded more than 20 teams in Māori Rugby League national competitions, both boys and girls.

Two back-to-back national titles came the club’s way in Aotearoa New Zealand Māori Rugby

League competitions when it won the under 14 girls in 2021 and under 16 girls in 2022.

It also chalked up two back-to-back titles in the Whakatipu Tournament in 2022 and 2023.

Nga Hau e Wha has produced 27 New Zealand representatives – seven New Zealand Māori

representatives in 2021 and 11 New Zealand Māori in both 2022 and 2023.

The club also took its first men’s team to the Māori League national competition on 14 and 15 October.

“At Nga Hau e Wha we are very much a whanau club,” Jemaine says.

“We are very lucky and fortunate to have such an amazing crew from our staff, friends, whānau and our great community of Wainuiomata.

“The real reward is watching our kids learn, grow and develop into great young leaders on and off the field,” he says.