May 2026
Ella Kelso, a Toitū Ngāti Porou Sport & Culture Recipient who affiliates to Te Whānau a Ruataupare hapū, Ngāti Porou iwi, and Waikato Tainui, is a Toitū Ngāti Porou Sport & Culture Recipient who has achieved outstanding results on the international stage, proudly representing bothAotearoa and her whānau at the Oceania Senior Championships
The Oceania Senior Championships is the premier championship event for the Oceania region, bringing together top judo athletes from across the Pacific to compete at an elite level. The competition featured multiple judo bouts across individual weight categories, alongside additional matches as part of the mixed team event.
Ella entered the championships as an International Judo Federation (IJF) ranking event, providing an important opportunity to gain further international experience and valuable world ranking points.
Preparation for the competition involved regular judo and gym sessions, alongside competing in additional IJF events and training camps across Europe and Africa.
Her dedication and hard work paid off, earning a bronze medal in her individual category and a silver medal as part of the New Zealand mixed team event.
Representing both her country and iwi on the international stage remains something deeply important to her.
Following the Oceania SeniorChampionships, Ella continued her strong form at the Mandurah Oceania Open, where she secured another silver medal.
A huge congratulations to Ella Kelso on her achievements and for continuing to represent Ngāti Porou with pride, determination, and excellence on the international stage.
