Bay of Plenty teenager Te Auepo Love-Henry has fought her way to the top of New Zealand’s Muay Thai scene, claiming a national youth title after more than a decade in the sport.

The Rotorua Girls’ High School student secured the National Youth Title at the New Zealand Federation Muay Thai tournament in Gisborne over the weekend.

The 14-year-old, who lives in Murupara but goes to school in Rotorua, faced fellow young fighter Te Aronui Maiden in a very competitive fight hosted by Rangataua o Aotearoa.

The event showcased a full fight card featuring NZ title bouts, youth championship fights and high-level match-ups, highlighting both experienced athletes and the next generation of rangatahi coming through in the sport.

Every fighter on the card completed an intensive training campaign, committing weeks of preparation, discipline and sacrifice to earn their place in the ring.

For Te Auepo, training started at an early age when she was introduced to Muay Thai at the age of 4 by her father, John Love-Henry.

A proud moment after the fight, celebrating a hard‑earned win. Photo / Supplied

John had been training in the sport since he was a teenager and Te Auepo’s passion grew under his guidance.

By 9, she was stepping into the ring for her first competition and hasn’t looked back since.

Her mother, Waiheke Love‑Henry, said Te Auepo’s national title was the result of years of hard work, dedication and self‑discipline.

She described Te Auepo as a “very humble, very respectful” young athlete who never needed reminding to train.

Te Auepo’s training ramped up when her parents opened Tu Taniwha in Murupara – a gym with dedicated Muay Thai and kickboxing classes – allowing her to push herself further in the sport.

Tu Taniwha began modestly five years ago in a family shed, after Waiheke and John noticed too many young people in their community had little to do after school.

They said they started inviting local kids to learn Muay Thai, and the response quickly snowballed.

Over time, they added functional fitness equipment and gradually turned the shed into a small training space.

The club is now based in a larger building, which the family has been leasing since January last year.

Waiheke said Tu Taniwha was created with a broader purpose than just fitness.

The gym aims to create positive generational change in the community, with the doors open to the entire whānau, not just individuals.

Te Auepo said when training gets tough, it’s her dad and team that keep her motivated.

The teenager trains four times a week in Muay Thai, while also balancing rugby and league commitments.

That same drive earned her a spot in the Waiariki Under-15 league team, whomare set to travel to Hāwera next month.

She said she felt the nerves before stepping into the ring to compete for the national title but steadied herself by sticking to her game plan and waiting for the right moment.

It was an emotional end to a fight she hadn’t imagined winning, the realisation hitting hard enough to bring tears.

Securing the championship had been one of Te Auepo’s main goals for 2026, and with the year just beginning, the young fighter is already looking ahead to the next titles she hopes to chase.

She’ll be registering later this year for the New Zealand Team Trials for the World Championships in Greece, a major opportunity for which everyone around her is ready to support her every step of the way.