Riria Hana Ropata 

Ngāti Raukawa, Te Āti Awa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira 

Pūkenga, Poutuarongo Kawa Oranga 

Asia Pacific Women’s Powerlifting Champion 

16 August 2024 

Riria Ropata will be travelling to Sun City, South Africa as a competitor in the Commonwealth Powerlifting Championships in October. The competition is scheduled for 4-13 October 2024. There are 45 competitors and coaches in the New Zealand delegation. Riria was selected through her performances at the national competition and at the 2023 Asia Pacific competition. Her first lift is on 10 October, giving her plenty of time to acclimatise. She will be competing in the women’s 84+kg weight class for: 

• back squat female 
• bench press female 
• dead lift female 
• overall female. 

The competition is organised by the Commonwealth Powerlifting Federation. Their goal is to develop and promote a high-standard and enjoyable drug-free powerlifting competition at the Commonwealth International level. It is affiliated to the International Powerlifting Federation. 

Although powerlifting is a self-funded sport, Riria has focused on her training and preparing herself without the worry of expenses for travel, accommodation, uniform and lifting gear. Her whānau has been fundraising to help get her to the competition. This is being led by her mother, Ramari Ropata-Rikihana. Although Riria is an only child, her extended whānau is large and supportive. They are proud of her many achievements, which include academic success. Riria has a postgraduate Diploma in Te Reo Māori and a Poutuarongo Kawa Oranga from Te Wānanga o Raukawa. 

Riria is a pūkenga (lecturer) at Te Wānanga o Raukawa in the Kawa Oranga programme- Bachelor of Health Promotion, Sport and Exercise Science. The programme is taught out of Ngā Purapura, a world-class high-performance centre for Māori wellbeing, sport and exercise. 

Riria’ goal is to achieve gold in all her categories at the competition along with improving on her personal bests in all lifts and in the total. We hope Riria achieves her goals, and we wish her the very best in the competition. 

Mauri mahi, mauri ora; mauri noho, mauri mate. 

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