Tatiana Raumati leads Māngere’s charge in Z Manu World Champs qualifier
- Tatiana Raumati trains at Māngere’s Moana Nui-a-Kiwa Centre for the Z Manu World Champs.
- She encourages more girls to participate, emphasising that ‘girls can bomb with the best’.
- The Māngere qualifier, featuring top competitors, offers a chance to advance to the grand final on March 1.
If you’ve ever been to the Moana Nui-a-Kiwa Centre in Māngere, South Auckland, over the summer, you’ve probably seen Tatiana Raumati practising her manu technique in the popular bombing pool.
She’s there most days and, with the Z Manu World Champs under way, Tatiana’s been busy training.
Her training ground is the Moana Nui-a-Kiwa Centre, home to one of the few official bombing pools in New Zealand. The centre has five outdoor pools, but the bombing pool is the star attraction.
Every summer it draws crowds of residents and visitors, all eager to show off their dive bombs, including the iconic manu, which many still refer to as the “Māngere” in honour of the area’s deep connection to the sport.
This weekend the Māngere qualifier for the Z Manu World Champs is jammed with competitors registered, including medallists from last year’s manu champs.
Tatiana, 22, is registered to take part on Saturday.
“Usually, there’s only me and a couple of other girls up here practising and heaps of guys. More girls should give it a go I reckon. Girls can do anything and we can bomb with the best of them. I would say to girls – don’t be afraid to give it a go,” Tatiana says.
Manu, she says, is a lifelong passion. She’s been practising her technique at the Māngere pool for years and is eager to share her love for the sport – especially with the younger generation and other girls who want to give manu a go.
