Poho Kererū
# Team Te Hono: A Story of Dedication, Commitment, and Resilience
This weekend, I had the privilege of witnessing one of the most inspiring moments of my life. Our team of three amazing wahine, competed in the True West Adventure Race in Hokitika, New Zealand. This was not just any race, but a gruelling test of physical and mental endurance, involving mountain biking, trekking, and rafting across our own stunning landscape.
Team Te Hono was not the most experienced or the most prepared team in the race. They had never done anything like this before. But they had something that no other team had: a bond of friendship, a spirit of adventure, and a determination to get out there and complete it.
They trained hard for months, sacrificing their time and energy to get ready for the challenge. They supported each other, motivated each other, and learned from each other. They faced their fears, pushed their limits, and discovered their strengths.
On the day of the race, they gave it their all. They worked as a team and helped each other out. They enjoyed the scenery and the thrill of the adventure. They did not give up, even when they faced setbacks, they crossed the finish line with smiles on their faces, pride in their hearts and the pride of their whānau and our team/community.
They came third in the race and won so much more. They won the respect and admiration of whānau, and our community and we even have a whole new younger team for 2024! You won the confidence and satisfaction of achieving something extraordinary. They won the knowledge and wisdom of learning something new. They won the joy and gratitude of living a memorable experience.
Team Te Hono, you have inspired us all with your dedication, commitment, and resilience. You have shown us what it means to be a team, to be adventurous, and to be resilient. You have shown us how to live life to the fullest, to challenge ourselves, and to grow as people. You have shown us how to be Te Hono.
Congratulations on your amazing achievement and thank you for letting us be a part of your journey. I can't wait to see what you do next. Bring on 2024!