Te Maori: Stick ability keeps Leo Mitai-Wells at top level

Leo Mitai-Wells

Leo Mitai-Wells grew up with a hockey stick in his hands.

Since the age of 3, the Te Arawa and Whakatohea descendant has been passionate about the sport - not that he could avoid it, being part of the large Mitai-Ngatai whanau.

The 18-year-old remembers the icy morning trainings his koro Minarapa Mitai-Ngatai led with his older brothers and cousins.

"We used to go down to the turf at 6am nearly every day for training and to do drills," Leo said.

"I was like 6 or 7 then and it was freezing on those mornings."

It may have been those chilly starts that has contributed to Leo's success on the astroturf. Having played representative hockey since he was 7 for the Bay of Plenty and Midlands region, he is now part of the New Zealand under-18 men's team for the second year in a row.

"I was pretty excited to be chosen again, I'm just looking forward to travelling and going to Australia to compete," he said.

"Training has been really hard, it's been intense and the coaches are always pushing you. But the team is great and most of them I already know.

"We've kind of grown up together in different rep teams so playing together is good competition as it's the best in the country coming together."

Leo was also named in the current New Zealand Maori team alongside his brothers Owen and Te Hai. He attended Western Heights High School before graduating at Hamilton Boys' High School and this year planned to study business at Wintec College.

"I have a lot of support from my whanau," he said. "They do everything for me, fundraise and I just really turn up and play."

His mother, Hiwinui Mitai-Ngatai, said she couldn't be prouder of Leo and his brothers' achievements on the hockey field.

"He's been in hockey ever since he was little, we have a photo of him when he was 3 with a hockey stick in his hands," Ms Mitai-Ngatai said.

"Dad started up our own whanau team so he grew up playing. I just feel really proud watching him - his ultimate goal is to play for the Black Sticks."

Funds are still needed to send Leo to Australia with the New Zealand under-18 men's team. To donate go to: http://www.fundraiseonline.co.nz/LeoJohnothanRioneMitai-Wells.