In 2009, Heather Skipworth conceived the idea of Maori competing
in an indigenous Maori half-ironman event. Such was its success,
last year saw the event double in size and attract Maori from
throughout Aotearoa. With more than 1,500 registrants in 2011, the
event has taken on a life of its own in Maori communities.
Rather than being daunted by the significant health problems
suffered by Maori, 37-year-old Heather seeks to do something about
it through a simple basic approach to activity and has made it fun,
enjoyable and sustainable.
I
try to lead by example and practise what I preach. I believe
everyone has a purpose and my purpose is to encourage those around
me to strive, and to be the best that they can be.
Heather Te-au Skipworth
Given an unexpected opportunity to work as lifestyle coach in
2006 at Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga in Hastings, the largest Maori
health provider in Hawkes Bay, Heather realised the enormous reward
that can be gained from giving someone a chance.
Heather's vision for IronMaori came from the epiphany she
experienced on the completion of her first gruelling ironman. She
realised that if she could achieve this, she could achieve anything
- a realisation that laid a pathway for others who had lost sight
of the positives in their lives to build the confidence to achieve
anything they wanted to do.
IronMaori participants train together, support, encourage and
motivate each other. Heather is from Hastings; it has been
suggested that IronMaori is the biggest thing that has hit Hawke's
Bay Maori since the closing of the local freezing works 25 years
ago, but with the opposite effect.
The result is a positive impact much larger than one event.
IronMaori has made significant inroads into transforming lifestyle
messages and choices within a population where traditional health
systems have failed to do so. IronMaori has swept the country
through social media and other Maori networks.
As a devoted mother and wife, Heather has watched her own family
positively transform under the inspiring and healing power of
IronMaori. Heather has delivered her message with profound
modesty and total commitment and, in doing so, has changed a many
lives in her own community and around the country.