Auckland will host some of the best dive bombers in the world as the Manu World Champs reaches its climax in Wynyard Quarter.
More than 2000 people have taken part in qualifiers across New Zealand, and one on Australia’s Gold Coast, trying to make it to the Grand Final on March 14 with $40,000 in cash and prizes up for grabs.
Only 130 competitors have made it through to the final and these are some of the names spectators can expect to make some of the biggest splashes.
Last year’s adult male champion Maara Toa is back to defend his title and will look to go bigger than his 10.12m splash that led to him taking home the crown.
He is likely to face stiff competition from Hastings’ Javan Pahau, who won his qualifier’s Adult Male and Anything But a Manu divisions.
Pahau missed last year’s finals because of a shoulder injury and said his comeback has been emotional.
“I’ve been bombing since I was 10 years old,” he said.
“My qualifying Manu in Hastings was actually my first bomb of the season so I’m pretty stoked and I can’t wait to get to the Grand Final.”
Hayden Etuata, the winner of Māngere’s Adult Male qualifier two years in a row, is also expected to have a good shot at the Adult Male crown, while Izrayl Heta, Langi Kapene, Chad Robson and Marley Blakk Waaka Te Amo each produced splashes of more than 10m to qualify for the final.
In the Adult Female competition, Nikita Henare, known online as sheloves2manu, will represent Whangārei after winning that qualifier for the second year in a row, and faces competition from reigning champion Shonte To’a.
“I take part to inspire others,” To’a said, “especially my son.”
She said one of her first memories of a manu came when she was learning how to swim.
“I was still a baby and my dad chucked me in the pool to learn how to swim.
“Pretty sure I popped a manu as I was thrown in!”
Lifeguard Manu Reedy may have the perfect name for the competition and will look to improve on her seventh-place finish in last year’s Adult Female final, while also taking part in the Freestyle competition.
This year’s Youth Female competition features a number of standout names such as returning champion and niece of former All Black Piri Weepu, Zerenity Mill-Simpson.
Ella Mohi-Henare, who finished second to Mill-Simpson last year, and Sapphira Mohi-Williams, who qualified out of Māngere, and 2025 Kids Girls world champion Aila McQueen, are all expected to also be producing huge bombs in this category.
Other names to watch out for include returning Youth Male champion Jayden-Lee Raumati and Brooklyn Kay in the Kids Female competition, while Xenia Williams, William Fraser and Leonydis Williams look strong in the Anything But a Manu category.
Two pairs to watch out for include father and son duo Pauly and Reino Kauri taking part in the Adult and Youth Male categories respectively, while couple Jahrome Rapata-Taipari and Faith Sorby are returning to the Grand Final for Adult Male and Anything But a Manu.