Journey beyond dreams

Eye on the prize: Tawhiri Toheriri-Hallett will represent the Cook Islands at the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. Picture supplied

Tawhiri Toheriri-Hallett was 13 when he started boxing after a friend encouraged him to give it a go.

Little did he know that walking into Gisborne City Hit Pit Boxing Club was the beginning of a journey beyond his wildest dreams.

Head coach Jim Kahukoti recalls Tawhiri lost quite a few fights in the early days. However, he never gave up.

“He was so resilient,” Jim said.

“He just wanted to keep training and bettering himself.”

After seeing New Zealand boxer David Nyika win his gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Tawhiri began to dream big.

“I said, ‘One day I want to go to the Commonwealth Games and represent my people and my coaches on the world stage.' ”

Tawhiri was determined to keep his eye on that prize, and relentlessly pursued his goals and dreams.

While his friends were going to parties, he was in the gym with Jim and the team for up to four hours a day.

“I saw that commitment; he had a plan and a goal,” Jim said.

After nine years of blood, sweat and tears, all those sacrifices have paid off.

Jim was ecstatic when he got a call from Tawhiri.

“It was a real special moment when he called me and said he'd made it into the Commonwealth Games team.”

Tawhiri will represent the Cook Islands at this year's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

He was born and raised in New Zealand, but representing his Cook Islands heritage is a huge honour.

One of Tawhiri's inspirations is his grandmother, who is Rarotongan. He sees this as an opportunity to connect with his Polynesian heritage.

“I couldn't be more grateful to the people of the Cook Islands for giving me this opportunity to represent them on the world stage,” he said.

“For my family to discover a part of our identity that's been missing, that's the biggest reward. It's bigger than going to the Commonwealth Games.”

Right at the heart of his success, is the unbreakable bond he shares with his coach, Jim. It's a bond that extends far beyond the ring.

Tawhiri said growing up without a father figure in the home was tough, but meeting Jim changed his life.

“He treated me like his own son. He's my mentor and role model, someone I look up to and aspire to be like one day.”

Jim sees Tawhiri in the same way.

“His mum, she was mum and dad,” he said. “And I grew up the same, you know, I never had a dad at all.

“Tawh, he just fitted into my family. Became a son to me, became a brother to my children. He was just there all the time.”

Tawhiri moved to Auckland just under two years ago, finding his home away from home at Mayhem Boxing in Valley Road, Mt Eden.

His coach at Mayhem, Terrence Reid-Batchelor, and the team remind him of the team family environment he had in Gisborne.

“It's everyone supporting each other, everyone encouraging each other, and everyone wanting the best for each other,” Tawhiri said.

Mayhem have two other boxers going to the Commonwealth Games — Troy Garton and Uila Mau'u, in the New Zealand team.

Tawhiri is heading to Sheffield to train with the British boxing team before he goes to Birmingham to meet the rest of the Cook Islands team.

But before leaving he took a trip to Gisborne to see family.

“We were talking about his trip coming up,” Jim said.

“Told him how much I loved him. I'm so proud of him, you know.”