Big splashes, loud pops and elite competition took over the Auckland Viaduct as the Z Manu World Champs showed off the best of the best on Saturday afternoon.
World champions were crowned for the female and male Manu divisions for kids, youths and adults, alongside female and male Anything But a Manu divisions.
Crowds stuck around the arena, and some in the water, all afternoon to see how impressive a splash the competitors could make.
Youth Male Manu competitors Reino Kauri and Tione Haruru feared the strong wind might mean the heights of their splashes could be impacted, but it wasn’t enough to throw them off winning silver and gold respectively - despite arriving without any practice.
Youngsters in the crowd were most excited to see influencer JManGo, who is attempting to visit every town in New Zealand. He took third place in the Famous Faces division.
“That was great, I got good form and I’m so happy about it,” JManGo said.
“I think if I’m being honest, last-minute training two hours ago saved me today, not kidding.”
The influencer plans to spend a few more days in Auckland before heading down to the South Island and attempting to visit every town there.
Actor Bruce Hopkins started the Famous Faces division with a spectacular double backflip and thunderclap, while chef Peter Gordon donned an outfit fit for one of his kitchens, accompanied with some meat and vegetables.
“I knew I was going to be really not good and I thought, ‘I just need to add something to it’,” Gordon said. “A bit of colour and a bit of food.”
The Flava breakfast crew had a side bet, with whoever finished last between K’Lee, Azura Lane and their producer Anna – a late stand-in for the injured Charlie Pomee – having to do a double shift.
The stand-in was no slouch, winning their mini competition and forcing K’Lee to pick up some extra work at the station, but the trio made sure to emphasise the importance of water safety, with the Famous Faces all raising money for Water Safety New Zealand.
“We had loads of fun and of course water safety here in Aotearoa is super important,” K’Lee said.
“Just putting it out there to all the whānau: Get your kids into swimming lessons. Make sure they’re safe around those waters all year long, not just for the summer, all right?
“And honestly, the Manu World Champs, you don’t want to miss out. Honestly, just give it a shot.”
Sports Minister Mark Mitchell returned for a second year, while regular participant and former All Black Piri Weepu climbed above the 5m platform to produce one of the biggest splashes he’d ever made.
“Two years ago, I did the exact same thing. They tried to say they should have disqualified me,” Weepu said.
“I thought, just for the laughs and I guess for the crowd, ‘Why not go all the way to the top even though I’m not supposed to and try to do a bomb from the top?’”
One of the favourites to win the Kids Female division, Brooklyn Kay, came through with an impressive result to take the win, while Hunter Tangitau took home the gold in the Kids Male competition.
Aila McQueen is world Youth Female champions after winning the Kids’ Female competition last year, beating out Piri Weepu’s niece and last year’s victor Zerenity Mill-Simpson.
“Coffin King” William Fraser wowed the crowd to win the male Anything But a Manu category again, while Kerriann Iripa won the female division.
Shonte To’a continued her reign as Adult Female Manu champion of the world, completely dominating the field.
In the Adult Male competition, last year’s champion Maara Toa was unable to reclaim his crown, with Izrayl Heta coming out with the big prize at the end, beating out Stacie Aporo, who had travelled over from the Gold Coast.
Some of members of the crowd who stayed right to the end serenaded competitors with hakas, while almost all competitors said they are keen to make a big splash again next year.