Local dads step up to shelter kids
A card featuring 14 bouts of boxing, kickboxing and mixed martial arts is set to light Kaitaia up at this Saturday night’s Fight For Kids FFK1 Charity fight night, including the first ever octagon cage match to be held in the north.
Event organiser Jason Reti said a call from the public to erect some bus shelters at some of the more populated bus stops around Kaitaia had sparked his interest and this fight night represented a way to meet that need.
“Every year you see people on the local Facebook pages talking about all the wet, cold kids they see, so I thought, ‘let’s try and do something about that’,” Reti said.
He noted men from around Northland had answered the call to put their reputations on the line to help, and that he had been left stoked with the response from a few local organisations who could also help.
“NorthTec have said they’re happy to help with the labour, ITM are happy to work with us for the materials and the Te Hiku Community Board think it’s a great local initiative.”
“Some people look at fight nights for just their value on the night, but the fact is, for months leading up to this, I get to work with men from really different backgrounds in group settings where they are able to support each other, build a healthy brotherhood and brings together those who otherwise may never have met.
“Something special comes from men supporting each other with a common interest, for this event, it’s fighting but the ripple-on effect is what’s really special.”
Jeremy Tecklenburg is one of the “Super Dads” who’s stepped up to fight for the TOA Super Heavyweight title belt, one of five belts being contested for on the night. Jeremy is a dad to his own three sons but with his wife, Mihi, also raises his four nephews and nieces, said Mr Reti.
“Jeremy is an amazing example of what many of the dads on the fight card have been doing. He walks the lake with his family, makes sure all of his kids get to their schools, sports and other activities daily as well as helping lead the Pawarenga Broncos TRL team.”
Tecklenburg said he had seen kids standing in the rain getting soaked on miserable wet days many with their parents getting soaked next to them: “It’d be nice to drive past some of these little guys over winter standing in a bus shelter that I helped to put there.”
Other local dads stepping into the ring this weekend include, Brent Tecklenburg (Pawarenga), Trevor Marsh (Ngati Kuri), Bradley Fraider (Kaitaia), Rongo Makiha (Kaikohe), Kahu Namana (Whangarei), Karaka Marsden (Ngai Takoto), Carlos Waikai (Waimanoni), Herb Rata (Takahiwai), Ihaka Korewha (Opononi), Haimz Leef (Panguru), Gary Wihongi (Kaikohe), and Talmage Herbert (Pawarenga).
The event is being organised through Mauri Social Services, one of the newest social service providers in Kaitaia and stemming from the well established Mauri Education group.
As director of the organisation, Reti said, “Mauri prides itself on recognising community need and responding to it.”
Another spin-off from the fight night will be that Mauri Social Services, in collaboration with Whiria Te Muka, will be putting helpline messages in each of the bus stops.
“The idea is that if the information is there everyday for these whanau then if they ever need the help, they’ll know what to do.”
■ Food will be available for sale for those who haven’t been able to score themselves a coveted seat at the seafood laden tables. There will also be auctions going up for gloves, korowai and a championship belt, the proceeds of which will go to local sports groups helping out on the night. All tables have been sold but general admission tickets are still available at $25 per person at the door.