Esther Papuni (Ngāi Tahu) who featured in the October issue of Te Pānui Rūnaka, recently competed at New Zealand Judo Championships in Tauranga. Esther,10, won her under 28kg division and she also came third in the open weight category.

Esther on the first place podium at the nationals competition.

Esther on the first place podium at the nationals competition.

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Esther Papuni,10 of Tāmaki Makaurau, has been doing Judo for just over a year and has been winning all the major tournaments in her junior girls under 28kg weight class, as well as taking out a gold in the junior girls open weight class (36kg +).

Esther holds titles in her weight class from the Waikato Bay of Plenty competition, open Auckland international competition and North Island championships. She is a yellow belt and is of Māori (Ngāi Tahu, Whakatōhea), Samoan, English and Scottish descent. [Read more…]