Te Āti Awa Toa Wellington Regional Sports Awards
At last night’s Āti Awa Toa Sports Awards, Toa Hockey Club was recognised in the iwi awards category, receiving the 'He Tohu Arohanui ki te Tangata Award', alongside Kalae Kenny our up and coming basketball superstar (watch out Jordan) who was awarded the 'He Tohu Taiohi Hono ki tōna Hapori'.
We also acknowledge iwi members Huria Martin and Kiharoa Landon-Lane who were nominated for awards, as well as all of last night’s winners. It was great to see local community clubs like @cannonscreekboxing and @poriruaheatbasketballclub also acknowledged.
The kōrero “it takes a village” was echoed throughout the evening, and when we think of Toa Hockey and the mahi that goes into building our future sporting stars, it certainly rings true.
Let take a look at our award winners in more detail.
Toa Hockey recipient of He Tohu Arohanui ki te Tangata Award
For 95 years, Toa Hockey has been a proud part of the history of Ngāti Toa Rangtira and the wider hockey community. Established in 1933, the club began with whānau playing side by side – mums, sisters, aunties and cousins – proudly representing their whānau, marae and iwi. From the early days at Takapūwāhia Marae through to today, kotahitanga and whanaungatanga have remained the beating heart of the club. Tamāriki who once watched from the sidelines, now take the field themselves, carrying the legacy forward.
The original Toa Hockey Team
The summer whānau hockey league continues to be a highlight on the maramataka, bringing generations together both on and off the field.
As the longest-standing Māori hockey club in Aotearoa, Toa Hockey’s legacy stretches across generations – from grass fields in the early years to the development of the Elsdon Hockey Turf, just minutes from Takapūwāhia Marae.
We honour not only the years but also the people – past and present – who have kept the flame alive: the players, coaches, cooks, fundraisers, van drivers, referees and supporters who have carried this kaupapa with aroha. Hockey has been in our blood for generations, and now our tamāriki who were watching from the sidelines, take the field themselves, carrying that legacy forward.
Click here to take a journey through time as we not only celebrate Toa Hockey’s award but 95 years.
Kalae Kenny recipient of He Tohu Taiohi Hono ki tōna Hapori Award
Kalae Kenny has already made his mark on the international stage. In November 2024, he represented the U15 Fijian Boy's team at the FIBA U15 Oceania Cup, delivering an outstanding performance. He finished as the tournament’s third-highest points scorer with 22.5 points per game, ranked 7th in assists, and placed in the top 20 for steals.
His efforts saw him named 2024 Junior Most Valuable Player (Year 9) at the Wellington College Sports Awards. Kalae’s Wellington College team now has the chance to compete for the Wellington School Competition and Regionals title, to be held from 23–26 August 2025.
At the national level, Kalae represented Porirua Basketball at the U16 New Zealand Nationals, where he captained his team and was named Most Valuable Player, averaging an impressive 27 points per game.
Looking ahead, Kalae hopes to be selected for the U17 Fijian Boys’ team to travel to Samoa for the FIBA U17 Oceania Cup in December 2025 – a step closer to an exciting future in basketball.