Impact In the Community
More Than Basketball: NPEC U12 Boys Represent Ngāti Porou with Pride
November 11, 2026
November 2026
For the NPEC U12 Boys Basketball Team, competing at the Slam Tournament in Auckland was about more than basketball. It was an opportunity to grow in confidence, strengthen friendships and proudly represent their Ngāti Porou community.
Having played together for more than three years, both on and off the court, the boys have built strong friendships through their shared passion for basketball.
Preparing for the Auckland tournament required commitment, dedication and plenty of hard work. From regular training sessions to developing their skills and teamwork, the boys put in the mahi to take on a new challenge.
Behind their journey was the encouragement and support of coaches, parents, whānau and the wider community, who helped make this experience possible.
Competing against teams from different areas gave the boys an opportunity to test their abilities, experience a higher level of competition and put their training into practice.
Throughout the tournament, they demonstrated determination, resilience and sportsmanship, continuing to encourage one another even when faced with challenges on the court.
For the boys, the experience came with some valuable lessons.
Milo Raroa reflected on the importance of perseverance when the pressure was on:
"There were times it was challenging and making shots, but I just kept going because we were running out of time"
Desire Ruki also shared his experience of competing against strong opposition:
"The shooting was hard, they were always on me like flies ,Good experience though."
For Rerewa Koia and Hawaiki Naera, the speed and intensity of the competition highlighted areas they could continue developing.
While the final scores were part of the tournament, the biggest achievements went beyond the results. The boys returned with greater confidence, stronger friendships and valuable lessons about teamwork, discipline and perseverance.
Support from Toitū Ngāti Porou played an important role in helping the team travel to Auckland and participate in the tournament.
With travel, accommodation, food and other costs creating financial challenges for whānau, the funding helped ease some of that pressure and made the opportunity more accessible.
The support represents more than financial assistance. It reflects an investment in the wellbeing, development and future aspirations of young Ngāti Porou.
Through experiences like these, rangatahi can build confidence, develop new skills and discover what they are capable of achieving.
The team's journey does not end in Auckland.
Building on their tournament experience, the focus is now on continuing to develop their basketball skills, strengthen their teamwork and pursue further opportunities to compete.
For other young Ngāti Porou aspiring to follow their sporting dreams, the team's message is to believe in themselves, stay committed and embrace new challenges.
The NPEC U12 Boys have shown that success is not measured by the final score alone, but also by the friendships formed, challenges overcome and confidence gained along the way.
He waka eke noa – we are all in this together.
