Rotorua Daily Post
  • Rotorua Daily Post home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Property
  • Sport
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Residential property listings
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Rural
  • Sport

Locations

  • Tauranga
  • Te Puke
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō & Tūrangi

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales

Weather

  • Rotorua
  • Tauranga
  • Whakatāne
  • Tokoroa
  • Taupō

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Strong values and discipline make a top warrior

Rotorua Daily Post
22 Jan, 2015 12:19 AM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Levi Whata, 18, has been announced as Top Warrior for 2015 at the prestigious Mokoia Island Mau Taiaha Wananga. Photo / Supplied
Levi Whata, 18, has been announced as Top Warrior for 2015 at the prestigious Mokoia Island Mau Taiaha Wananga. Photo / Supplied

Levi Whata, 18, has been announced as Top Warrior for 2015 at the prestigious Mokoia Island Mau Taiaha Wananga. Photo / Supplied

Thinking of others before himself, strong displays of whanau values, and natural leadership meant Levi Whata was chosen as Top Warrior for the 2015 Mokoia Island Mau Taiaha Wananga.

Senior tutor on the camp Eraia Kiel said Levi consistently showed these qualities.

"Thinking of others before himself is the key ingredient to any taiaha warrior, and that wasn't the first time he has shown that.

"Usually when we look for a top warrior they must show leadership qualities in all areas, like helping younger students. "He was always looking out for younger students, helping out with the kai when it came time to prepare for meals, and offering his hand in the kitchen.

"He has natural leadership qualities in terms of his skill with taiaha and kapa haka, he was leading the items and his tutors got him to fulfil leadership roles in front of his peers.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"He is a very humble young boy as well, that's one of the true qualities of a leader, you have to be humble."

The 18-year-old Tarawera High School student is of Te Arawa, Ngati Pikiao and Ngati Kahungunu-Ki Wairarapa descent.

Levi said he had worked hard to reach this stage in his training.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"It means so much to me, everything to me," he said.

"It's so prestigious to be awarded this honour, this accolade."

He had learned a lot from taking part, he said.

"It has taught me that those who are selfless go further in life. You need to be humble ... we all need that discipline. This has given me so much. I've grown so much in my culture."

Discover more

Rotorua crews perform well at national champs

20 Jan 12:30 AM

Te Ururoa Flavell: Marae rule: look after your visitors

20 Jan 04:00 AM

Being named Top Warrior for 2015 made his Lake Rotoiti-based grandparents Lynne Te Maari-Whata and Brian Whata proud in the knowledge he is disciplined and prepared for the future.

Levi had been attending the course, founded by Te Arawa kaumatua Mita Mohi more than 30 years ago, since he was 11.

The camps have been running for over 30 years and are run by Mr Mohi's son Patrick, who teaches students the ancient art of fighting and discipline.

Levi has plans to train as a teacher or to further his te reo Maori studies.

Meanwhile, his doting grandparents are stoked with his success.

"We are very proud," his grandmother Lynne Te Maari-Whata said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I was in hospital at the time and when he rang to tell me I had tears in my eyes. I couldn't stop those tears of joy for him."

The course offered the students a wealth of experience to help them in the future, she said.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Rotorua Daily Post

Man admits having $20k of stolen goods in mysterious arson case

04 Jul 06:00 PM
Rotorua Daily Post

Farmer's harrowing hours crushed beneath tractor

04 Jul 02:00 AM
Rotorua Daily Post

Farmer's harrowing hours crushed beneath tractor

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Recommended for you
650 properties assessed after damaging floods in Nelson and Tasman
New Zealand

650 properties assessed after damaging floods in Nelson and Tasman

04 Jul 11:19 PM
Insurers back using Takapuna golf course for flood prevention
New Zealand

Insurers back using Takapuna golf course for flood prevention

04 Jul 11:11 PM
Boss Babe to Bali bride: Iyia Liu’s $120K clifftop nuptials
Lifestyle

Boss Babe to Bali bride: Iyia Liu’s $120K clifftop nuptials

04 Jul 11:00 PM
Air NZ flight to New York diverted due to thunderstorms, others cancelled
New Zealand

Air NZ flight to New York diverted due to thunderstorms, others cancelled

04 Jul 10:53 PM
‘Mass casualty event’: Texas floods leave 13 dead, girls missing from summer camp
World

‘Mass casualty event’: Texas floods leave 13 dead, girls missing from summer camp

04 Jul 10:38 PM

Latest from Rotorua Daily Post

Man admits having $20k of stolen goods in mysterious arson case

Man admits having $20k of stolen goods in mysterious arson case

04 Jul 06:00 PM

William Tidd tried to sell the stolen items hours after the incident.

Farmer's harrowing hours crushed beneath tractor

Farmer's harrowing hours crushed beneath tractor

04 Jul 02:00 AM
Farmer's harrowing hours crushed beneath tractor

Farmer's harrowing hours crushed beneath tractor

'Social dysfunction at its worst': Two people sentenced over Rotorua teen prostitution ring

'Social dysfunction at its worst': Two people sentenced over Rotorua teen prostitution ring

04 Jul 01:08 AM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • Rotorua Daily Post e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Rotorua Daily Post
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP
search by queryly Advanced Search