The manager of the Team Tu'i Tonga, Owen Pau'u, speaking from Auckland today, said that their victory was the peak of their development since the Tu'i Tonga Outrigger Club was established in 2004. "Last year we won the Silver Medal at the same event in the New Zealand Championship, we know we could do it, and this year we did it." Owen said that last year the Team Tu'i Tonga represented Tonga in the World Outrigger Championship which was held in New Zealand, "and I don't want to blow my own trumpet but we put Tonga at third place in the world."

Owen is very proud of his team and attributed their success to the natural talent of the Tongan boys.

In this year's NZ Championship the Tu'i Tonga Outrigger Club entered three teams: the Tu'i Tonga Red in the Open Men W6 1500 meters event; the Tu'i Tonga White in the Open Men W6 500 meters even; and one W6 Open Women's team, Heilala.

In addition to these events, four Tu'i Tonga paddlers Folefole Finau, Owen Pau'u, Mosese Tu'itakau, and Takilesi Ahne were selected from the Auckland region to compete in the W1 (one man) events. Folefole Finau and Owen Pau'u both made the semifinals in the Open's category and Owen Pau'u also made it to the finals in the Masters Division.

The secretary for the Tu'i Tonga Outrigger Club, Nicoletta Rata reported that the Tu'i Tonga Red competed in the 1500m event, and in the final it came 5th and in the W6 500 meters final it came 4th place.

For the W12 500m event the Tu'i Tonga Red and Tu'i Tonga White combined to make up the Tu'i Tonga W12 team.

Following their success at this year's NZ Championship, Owen said that they were hopeful that they would be able to represent Tonga at the South Pacific Games in Samoa later this year. "I also wish that we could perform in Tonga, it would be good to have the Tongan public support when we compete at the South Pacific Games."

The gold medal team included (pictured from left):

(Back row) Takilesi Ahne (Nuku‘’alofa), Folefole Finau (Masilamea/ Ma‘’ufanga), Brett Petersen (Nuku‘’alofa), Mosese Tu‘’itakau (Hihifo/ Ha‘’apai), Owen Pau‘’u (Pea/ Kapa), Epeli Prescott (Kolomotu‘a/ Pelehake).

(Front row) A.J. Cowley (Kolofo‘’ou), Kisione Fonua (Kolofo‘’ou), Malakai Tu‘’ionetoa (Fasi moe afi), Setaleki Funaki (Tofoa), Penisimani Funaki (Tofoa), William Fonua (Kolofo‘ou).