A boxing tournament that puts teacher up against teacher with the aim of raising funds to develop an armature boxing pool for youth at risk and low social economic status will be held in Rotorua next month.
In two weeks, Rehua Mihaka from Ngāti Pikiao will step into the boxing ring, “I've been working hard to get in shape and improve my fitness.”
Mihaka teaches at Whangamarino primary school near Rotorua. He's one of 24 teachers who have entered the Clash of the Kaiako being run by Rotovegas Boxing.
The owner of Rotovegas Boxing Aaron Warren told Te Kāea, "Matua Rawiri from Whangamarino said, maybe we should get in there? And I said, why not! Because at the end of the day we have trained police, we have trained businessmen and why not teachers."
The tournament itself was set up to raise funds to help develop amateur boxing for youth at risk.
Rehua Mihaka will be fighting Justin Timoti in the tournament.
“Me and my opponent we are actually whānaunga, so we are cousins and we have been training together for about six months. We’re looking forward to getting into the ring and you know just getting into the kaupapa which is helping our tamariki along and putting them onto a positive path, says Mihaka’s opponent Justin Timoti from Tūhoe and Te Arawa.
The tournament will take place at the Rotorua Girls' High School Arena.