Just a week after the heartbreak at Nationals, Hapahapai was on a mission for gold—and her older sister, Waitohi, was just as determined. Here’s how it all unfolded.
"Victory is reserved for those who are willing to pay its price." Here's a snapshot look at our girl's quests to medal at the NZ Nationals No Gi BJJ comp in 2025.
He mihi tēnei ki tō mātou nei kuru pounamu hou, me te hīkaka hoki a ōna hāmua i tana putanga mai ki te ao mārama. Ki a koe e tōku hoa pūmau a Tess, nā tō rīrā te taonga hou tae haumaru ai.
One of my all-time favourite hunts with my bro AJ and two Scottish sisters, Zoe and Annie, who were on their first New Zealand hunting adventure—what an unforgettable day it turned out to be.
"I never really aimed for it — all I ever wanted was to speak my native language. But as my babies grew, I realised it was something they should see."
We'd been eagerly anticipating this for two years, especially with it being hosted in our home of Taranaki — where Tessa and I grew up, went to school, and where our Ngāti Tama iwi reside - ki te hoe!
Nā te tohunga rongonui, ki tētahi urutira whakaputa, te taonga nei.
From a renowned chief to one who shall gradually ascend, this great treasure has been bestowed.
We decided to make a small investment into the up-and-coming Craft Beer Brewers, THREE SISTERS.
We decided to make a small investment into the up-and-coming NZ Outdoor specialist brand, KEA OUTDOORS.
Health is something we are gifted from birth, but need to care for as we grow, and eventually age.
What are some aspects you need to consider when it comes to proper nutrition?
If you've been led to believe that a sluggish metabolism is your destiny, think again.
Korey Gibson, founder of My First Gym and former MMA Champion, advocates for children as young as four to participate in various martial arts disciplines rather than being limited to just one.
Prioritising nature connections is paramount and should be a daily endeavour. Embracing the abundance of natural wonders near you offers unparalleled opportunities for rejuvenation and enrichment.
If you’re someone who has spent a donkey's years trying to shift a few kilos, you’re not alone. Korey Gibson says more than 90 percent of people who start at fitness centres are in the same boat.
Korey Gibson's Whai: Personal Evolution Programs' Te Whetū Waerima (The 5 Cornerstones of Wellness), in association with Amohia, finally launched its inaugural face-to-face workshop in Kaikōura!
Kia pai te rā koakoa e taku hoa pūmau, 31 i te rā nei nei - e hika! Inā kē tō ātaahua tonu!
Korey helped the team at Mint Design improve their Te Reo Māori through some fun video interaction! #whai
Congratulations to our business partner Andy Peat on finalising the sale of the MasterFit code to fitness technology company Fitness On Demand. #amohia
With calm weather on the horizon, Mori Rapana heads out with Nore Martin to target big haku for a feast, while Korey is deep in the ngahere to bring home the bacon. #kiwaecoescapes
Hunt with Me, Series 3 Episode 5
The Brothers of Tangaroa go for a dive on the Kāpiti Coast, and Korey Gibson heads to Kaikōura in search of goats for some curry. #kiwaecoescapes
Owen travels to Te Waipounamu to test his agility as he hunts the dense mountainous ngahere of Kaikōura with Korey Gibson. #kiwaecoescapes
During 2021, I was approached by TV Show Hunt With Me on Māori TV to appear in a few episodes. The whānau inclusivity appealed to me as we love hunting as one! Check out show #1 here! #kiwaecoescapes
Trust in the ability of your own immunity and antibodies - they are designed to fight dis-ease. This book The Biology of Belief is a great read - I highly recommend. #whaipersonalevolutionprograms
Koina noaiho #pohokererū tēnei! #amohia
This was my final MMA fight in May 2013, my whānau was happy to see me finish - although, I still think I can "have one more". Enjoy e te whānau. #amohia
It's been a while but we've been doing the mahi behind the scenes and we are really proud of our new parent / overarching brand - Amohia and look forward to sharing our world with you! #amohia
An exciting, yet devastating day in the ngahere, we caught a 120lb boar, but our beloved kurī - Namunamu was killed in action. #kiwaecoescapes
What a crazy hunt this was with the crew from Toa Hunter Gatherer! Coming to the TV screens in early 2022. #kiwaecoescapes
Loving it... I new I wasn’t crazy... #whaipersonalevolutionprograms
My 3yr old Hapahapai and I had the great fortune of leading 50 tōtara mo āpōpō from Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Whānau Tahi in the bush this week, such a special night. #kiwaecoescapes
Loving our new Māori Rātaka and Maramataka from www.tuhi.co.nz
#whaipersonalevolutionprograms
“I’m excited to be a part of such a dynamic and ambitious team.” #ubx
We know you can't always get to the gym, so the Train on demand app is here to support you. Boxing + Strength Training, Nutrition and Mindset whenever and wherever you need it. ON DEMAND. #ubx
Despite the challenges that it has faced through 2020, as have all gym operators, 12RND Fitness / UBX has continued with its growth strategy with 14 new clubs due to launch in the coming months. #ubx
Olivia Ashby started her journey with UBX and soon will become our first UBX franchisee in Auckland, NZ, opening our second New Zealand-based UBX club. #ubx
Hannah has been a part of our UBX Mount Maunganui team since the day we first launched the club in NZ. Speaking with her, she shares her love for UBX and the UBX culture - a star in the making! #ubx
Our nephew Tahi Buster Gibson was awarded with his yellow (with white stripes) belt in BJJ last night in Brisbane, ka mau te wehi e te irāmutu ♥️ #amohia
Representing her school Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Whānau Tahi, Waitohi took to the stage with her mates for the first time, it was a very proud parent moment ♥️ #amohia
Thanks so much to Tāne God of the Forest, what a great haul we carried home to the whānau, 1 boar, 1 deer and 2 goats. #kiwaecoescapes
Former Warrior Shane Endacott headed into the hills for his first pig hunt. So great to catch up with a mate who looked after me when I was in the U19’s Warriors team back in 1996. #kiwaecoescapes
Head to You Tube and subscribe to our UBX channel today, whilst you’re there, check out some of our UBX Training videos! No class times = Never miss a workout! www.ubxtraining.com #ubx
What are you fighting for NZ? The fitness industry is booming, it’s a resilient industry that just keeps growing. We would love to help you realise your career dreams and aspirations! #ubx
Another great day at Ō-Tama-Kura, Taa and her daughter Niwha grabbed this before Rocky and Namunamu arrived, Alex stuck the boar and we were stoked! #kiwaecoescapes
Waitohi and I were excited to catch the 7am Intercity bus home from Ō-Tautahi Christchurch to our whare tūturu in Mangāmāunu Kaikōura ❤️❤️ such an enjoyable trip with my baby xx #amohia
Kia hiwa rā! Kia hiwa rā!
Whānau now is a perfect time for us to get together for a conference call and wānanga our whakapapa and some Te Reo Māori.
We are excited to announce that UBX Training Ormiston at 64 Ormiston Rd Auckland will open in January 2021. Congrats to our new UBX Training family member Olivia Ashby! #ubx
I had the pleasure of spending 2 days filming the pilot show for their new series. From kōura, to huhu, rabbit on an open fire, pig hunting and goat shooting, it was all action! #kiwaecoescapes
It’s been 10years since our last hunt together in the Marlborough Sounds! We managed a pig and some fresh watercress in the end and me old mate Dan slept very well that night! #kiwaecoescapes
Gotta get that matcha matcha tea in each day whānau! Te reka hoki, te hauora tonu! #whaipersonalevolutionprograms
Hapahapai and I shared a marmite sandwich before Jacinda’s live Covid-19 announcement ♥️ #amohia
Former world boxing champion & UBX Co-Founder Danny green took time out to take our trainers in Oz and NZ through a pad training session! Mahia te mahi e te hapori - become a ubx'er today! #ubx
What a beautiful night at home at Noaia Pā, Mangāmāunu. #kiwaecoescapes
The dogs went about 1km through a canyon type riverbed and then up a really steep face and into a deep waterfall! #kiwaecoescapes
The girls spent the morning by the fire dressing up their old mate Whaea, I think she loves the attention. #amohia
@ home this morning on the UBX TRAINING at Home app, mean session!! www.ubxtraining.com. #ubx
Natural, plant based, nutrient dense and delicious! The best supplements I have ever used. #whaipersonalevolutionprograms
Our beautiful niece Kauri is all ready for photos at kindy today, you’re so beautiful darling, we miss you so much xxxx #amohia
Wow the meals at The Pier Hotel – Kaikōura (the Scale & Gumboot back when it was a fisherman’s pub – since 1885) are huge! We could hardly eat it all, the girls managed the ice cream though! #amohia
This newborn Arapaoa lamb was rejected by his Mum, oh well, we have a new pet, the girls have named him Pīwari (cute). #kiwaecoescapes
Kids quiet for 90mins! What an awesome afternoon with our whanaunga Ngāi Tahu, Henare and Rhea Te Aika-Puanaki, listening to our babies speaking Māori to one another, kia tau te mauri. #amohia
I took my acupuncturist Brendan Bird for his first pig hunt with me, we managed to nab a nice fat pig for their freezer, tēnā rā koe e Tāne! #kiwaecoescapes
Our oldest girls first day of school started with the selection of ngaio leaves which were blessed in the waters of Te Tai o Marokura. #amohia
I had a great trip to Auckland, Tauranga and Mount Maunganui last week to attend meetings and train the UBX Training team at the Mount! #ubx
Waitohi’s first tooth fell out tonight, it’s all happening way too fast!! #amohia
I was lucky enough to spend both Saturday and Sunday with whānau in the bush chasing animals to feed both man and kurī. We live in paradise!! #kiwaecoescapes
I take great pride in saying that I founded this company in 2015, it’s been a challenging ride and I’ve learned a lot from this business and relationships within. #amohia
I have decided to join my old mate of 19yrs Tim West at UBX Training as CEO for NZ. #ubx
With the 300 odd questions each one of our babies asks us each day, they are pushing us to continually learn and extend our vocabulary Māori, so up goes the blackboard whānau!! ✊ #amohia
Bachelors final exam... check! #whaipersonalevolutionprograms
The Puawai netball girls trained well tonight and I enjoyed my conditioning session also! Ngā mihi koutou! #amohia
It was cold and the fish weren’t biting but swapping a day of pig hunting for an afternoon of fishing with my girls was worth every second! #amohia
We had a couple of sudden arrivals today! #kiwaecoescapes
Although I woke at my normal 5-6am body clock wake up time, I was slow in getting ready to go pig hunting. #kiwaecoescapes
I was up early running at 6.15am, another beautiful morning here in Mangāmāunu, I downed my cold X50 Green Tea before jumping on a Zoom hui at 7am... #whaipersonalevolutionprograms
I’ll be wearing this one tonight! Whakawhetai ki a koutou e āku tau xx #amohia
Repay bad with good? Āhea e mātou utua te kino ki te kino? When do we say enough is enough and repay bad with bad? #amohia
I picked up my girls Waitohi and Hapahapai from Playcentre today and the three of us raced off to the Annie Boyd Stairs in Kaikōura township to complete our 10 sets. #amohia
Almost every night of the week my babies jump on the floor and stretch my entire body, walk on my calves and stand on my Achilles etc. I love it and they love the painful look on my face! #amohia
A diverse and nutritional diet always allows for best performance for both man and dog, and when you rely on your kurī to feed your community. #kiwaecoescapes
What a day this has been, my brother Rickie Gibson is holding his annual RG Fitness Challenge in Brisbane and has us all doing something every hour on the hour for 12 or 24hrs. #amohia
I only had time to get my two main dogs Rocky and Taa’s rip collars/vests on before they bolted! #kiwaecoescapes
Children aren’t born with hatred or racism running through their thoughts, it is a learned behaviour, and we, the so called adults teach them all about it. #whaipersonalevolutionprograms
This came from Te Paruparu, it has been hardened by years of laying in the uku, shaped by knife, adorned with taura harakeke & the black and white huruhuru manu which represent te pō me te ao. #amohia
My pāpā turns 64 today and his ultimate birthday present arrives tonight when the NRL restarts!! Kia pai, kia koakoa to rā hirahira e Pā! #amohia
Karawhiua e te whānau! #amohia
The pigments absorb wavelengths from artificial lights & screens that are damaging to our eyes, our hormones, our melatonin level, our circadian rhythm & overall health. #whaipersonalevolutionprograms
He huakiwi, he āporo (a kiwi fruit & an apple). Te Ataarangi is a total immersion way of learning Te Reo. It uses coloured rods as a learning tool. #whaipersonalevolutionprograms
Handwriting practice for our pōtiki (youngest born) today Hapahapai, she seems to hold a little less concentration than Waitohi but she is still only my little 3yr old koala cuddling baby. #amohia
Kangen Water is created from Enagic’s water technology. Your tap water is filtered then either turned into ionized alkaline or acidic waters through electrolysis. #whaipersonalevolutionprograms
Another fulfilling akoranga Māori this morning with Reimana Tūtengaehe, he is such a wealth of knowledge & I feel privileged to be able to sit with him & ask questions. #whaipersonalevolutionprograms
What an awesome day today! From mahi, then kurī time before heading off to the tennis courts & teaching the girls how to win loads of $ haha, home for a spa in the rain & a game of memory! #amohia
You want to help people - You’ve felt the benefits of exercise - The way a body works interests you - You dislike staying still all day - You’re a natural motivator. #whaipersonalevolutionprograms
Extensive trapping has boosted the critically endangered kakī/black stilt population of just two dozen. A survey this year found 169 living in the wild in the Mackenzie Basin. #kiwaecoescapes
Trying to flood my retina with all the goodness from Tama-nui-te-rā as he comes up and over the horizon this morning! #whaipersonalevolutionprograms
I love seeing the progression of Waitohi’s handwriting, from brainstorming & allowing ideas to flow as they grow to basics like writing on bday cards, an essential lifeskill they really enjoy! #amohia
I hope her initial love for ‘bling’ doesn’t last! #amohia
Another very special whānau kurī passed away today, heart-breaking, mans best friend... enjoy chasing those pigs Moo Moo, kei te heke ngā roimata. #amohia
Another 200-250 natives planted over lockdown, we are about 5,000 deep at this point, the most pleasing thing is every single one of this last bunch were all from our own seedlings. #kiwaecoescapes
This mānuka, harakeke and #8 wire piece is a symbol of gratitude. #kiwaecoescapes
This piece was made from mānuka and #8 wire and symbolises the circle of life and survival. #kiwaecoescapes
Some of our whānau artwork created with our children over lockdown. This is the rainbow made from mānuka, #8 wire, harakeke and the tipa (scallop) shell is Tama-nui-te-rā (the sun). #kiwaecoescapes
It has kōkōwai (gifted to me by Tamahou Thoms) from Te Urewera & Takapunuke on it which was the same kōkōwai used in the pōwhiri for Prince Charles at Takahanga Marae in 2019. #kiwaecoescapes
Once level 3 hit we headed out as a whānau to our hunting block to nab a few goats for the dogs, another memorable day with the whānau at Ō-Tama-Kura xx #kiwaecoescapes
This taonga was made for a mate to commemorate a memorable hunt & pay tribute to the dogs who did their job, and the pig who fought valiantly and lost his life to nourish us. #kiwaecoescapes
A warning to hold fast to your customs rather than those of another... this is Te Paruparu, a 200m long clay pit we head to to scrub our bodies and de-lice and relax, our babies love it! #amohia
Even though we were all in lockdown, Hapa’s 3rd birthday was awesome and thanks to her Māmā, filled with unicorns and yummy kai xx #amohia
We grabbed the dogs and walked along the beach and across the Hāpuku River from home at Noaia to Hāpuku today to visit Poppy in person on the beach, ka rawe!! #amohia
Enjoying a toffee apple at home in Brisbane, we're missing our babies in Oz. #amohia
Another beautiful Easter with my babies, I love watching the excitement on their faces as they find more eggs for ME to eat! #amohia
Our daily training involved some roadwork today with the whānau during lockdown, elliptigo and bike riding! Hapahapai on my back ♥️ #whaipersonalevolutionprograms
Here we go whānau, almost time to go in! 4 goats to see the dogs through lockdown! #kiwaecoescapes
We ran a Te Reo Māori wānanga today in Kaikōura, what a great day it was, big thumbs up for everyone involved in the revitalisation of our beautiful taonga-Te Reo Māori! #whaipersonalevolutionprograms
Our beautiful niece Kauri is 4 years old today! I miss you so much my darling, love you and see you soon xx #amohia
It was another beautiful night at Takahanga Marae in Kaikōura feeding the food of chiefs to our leaders of tomorrow. He aha te kai a te rangatira? Ko te kōrero. #whaipersonalevolutionprograms
Waitohi’s 5th birthday was another awesome day, it was great to celebrate with all her little mates, time is flying! #amohia
We were thrilled to have the filming team from Ngāi Tahu show up to Takahanga Marae tonight to capture some of our class in action! #whaipersonalevolutionprograms
It was great seeing the BBK boys again on our recent trip back home to Taranaki, we need to do it more often, mauri kaha e āku parata ✊ #amohia
I’ve always marvelled at our upper echelon of Reo exponents such as Scotty Morrison. It was a lovely experience to be interviewed on Te Karere today for the first time. #whaipersonalevolutionprograms
It was certainly great to be back home in Taranaki for Māmā’s 60th earlier this year, we will be back soon Taranaki! Here’s a shot of Tess cruising on Te Rewa Rewa Bridge at Waiwhakaiho Beach. #amohia
It was an early morning departure from Mangāmāunu on the 27th of July to make the 7 hour trip to Karitāne and Puketeraki marae amongst our Kāi Tahu whanaunga of Kāti Huirapa.
This Monday the 29th of July is my best mates' Rickie's 40th birthday, have the best day ever bro.
The BNZ Crusaders have confirmed our cousin Scott Hansen will join their coaching group in 2020.
On Sunday July 21st Uncle Richard headed out to Ōhinepuhiawe (Parewahawaha) whenua in Bulls to listen to more of our Ngāti Huia whakapapa through our Ngāti Parewahawaha connections.
Everyday is a fresh start... #kiwaecoescapes #whaipersonalevolutionprograms #amohia
Tessa is interviewed by Jordyn Gregory from Kiwi Birth Tales about her home birthing experiences. #amohia
We spent a few hours today composing this waiata - head to our You Tube channel to have a listen about the 4 peaks that shelter us etc. Kaitarau, Uwerau, Manakau, Te Ao Whēkere. #amohia
He pakaru a waka e taea te raupine mai. Mātauranga kore, he waka pakaru, koirā te āhua o te ao Māori onāianei, ko te waka te kāhui mātauranga kore, ko te rongoā te mātauranga hei raupine atu. #amohia
What a beautiful weekend of story telling and wānanga pūrākau it was at Rāpaki Marae last weekend.
Well done to our beautiful niece kicking butt on the golf course!!
E te puhi, taukē kō! xx
Ki te pōtiki… (To my youngest…)
He korokoro kākā (resounding parrot-like throat)
Whatu titia (shining, twinkling eyes)
Te pōtiki mahara (thoughtful, is my last born)
#amohia
Ki te mātāmua… (To my first born…)
Ngū, otirā, aroā (quiet, although, aware)
Māia, whakamā (confident yet shy)
Kaha i te māhaki (strong through humility)
#amohia
Ki te hoa (To my darling)
Takurua, hiato (winter, gathered together)
Wahie, mātou (firewood, us)
Torohū, arohaina (smoulders, huddled together, in love)
#amohia
INĀ TĀTOU WHĀNAUNAU MAI AI, KEI RŌ NGĀKAU, TE AROHA…
INĀ ĒTEHI PAKEKE AI, KEI RŌ HINENGARO, TE MĀHIE…
MĀ NGĀ AKORANGA HĒ, KORE MĀTAURANGA ANŌ HOKI, TE MĀHIE, ORA ANA AI.
#amohia
Ko tōku Māma rāua ko tōna Māma (tōku kuia): My Mum and her Mum (my Nanny).
#amohia
Tēnei Au... He tangata ngahere ahau, he tangata whai poaka. He whare reo Māori tō mātou - te reo tuatahi ki ā māua tamariki. #kiwaecoescapes
Time is racing and our youngest is turning 2 already!! #amohia
28g = 11g fiber, 4g protein, 9g fat-5g omega-3s, calcium 18%, manganese 30%, magnesium 30%, phosphorus 27% RDI, zinc, vitB3 (niacin), potassium, vitB1 (thiamine) + vitB2 #whaipersonalevolutionprograms
We are really excited to share our world with you. We have established Kiwa Eco Escapes simply to have others share this beautiful place we call Aotearoa. #kiwaecoescapes
Another hideous weight cut... only 6.34kgs cut in 24hrs this time...
Trust formation to protect Nanny's land - 4th–6th of February 2011 at Noaia Pā, 83 Kiwa Rd. Mangāmāunu, Kaikōura.