From Rahui Marae to Taiwan

Image: Kuao Tangaere fighting his opponent at Rangataua o Aotearoa Te Ihi a Tu Fight Night 2025.

Fighters from the Ngati Porou Taekwondo Club achieved victory at the recent 2025 Big Boss International Taekwondo Championship held in Taiwan.

Kuao Tangaere and Lily Rudland from the Ngati Porou Taekwondo Club represented New Zealand at the international event and both won gold and bronze medals. They also celebrated the NZ team taking home an overall trophy. Kuao and Lily train under Master Cherry Henry out of Rahui Marae.

Over the years many Taekwondo fighters from Ngati Porou based clubs have achieved regional, national and international success in their weight divisions. In 2003, Matiu Grace won Bronze at the Korea Olympic Trials. The next year, Shane Grace also won Bronze at 2004 Korea Junior Worlds. In 2009 at the Australian Open Kimiora Poi won Gold, Awhina Henry won Silver and Navajo Hibbs won Bronze. More recently, Kuao Tangaere won Bronze medals at the 2022 Oceania Games in Tahiti and the following year in Australia.

ALMOST 40 YEARS OF TAEKWONDO IN NGATI POROU

Taekwondo started on the Coast with the establishment of the Ruatoria Taekwondo Club in 1987 by Master Amster Reedy. It was later taken over by Master John Grace in the early 1990’s. Taekwondo clubs were also formed from Te Araroa in the east to Tokomaru in the south. In 2006 after Master Grace gained a residency in Christchurch, Cherry Henry took up the reins as instructor amalgamating the Tikitiki and Ruatoria Taekwondo Clubs at Rahui Marae in Tikitiki. 

In 2021 Cherry was promoted to Master. In 2022 the club’s name changed to Ngati Porou Taekwondo to include all the students. At the beginning of 2025, Master Grace re-opened the Taekwondo Club in Ruatoria. Currently there are 24 fighters registered at Rahui marae based club, and 50 registered at the Ruatoria based club. There are club members who also travel in from Te Araroa and Te Puia.

 UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS

 Ngati Porou Taekwondo fighters are preparing to compete at several major tournaments this year. In June there are three big events: the NZUTA Open Championships in Tauranga, the TNZ Kukkiwon Cup Taekwondo Tournament in Christchurch and the Brisbane Open International Taekwondo Championships.

 In Christchurch there will be the opportunity for fighters to be selected for the Senior World Taekwondo Championships in China. Kuao and Lily are focused on gaining a place on the NZ team to represent the country at the Open Taekwondo Championships to be held in Malaysia in October. ‍