A South Auckland teacher’s commitment to uplifting her students through sport has been recognised with a major community award. Piuti Iakopo of Papatoetoe South School has spent the last five years dedicating her time to coaching tamariki in rugby, touch, rippa rugby, and softball, and was recently named one of the first winners of the Kitted for Greatness award.
The award, a partnership between Dress Smart Auckland and the Blues rugby franchise, celebrates grassroots rugby coaches and volunteers who go above and beyond for their communities. After receiving numerous nominations, Ms Iakopo was unveiled as the inaugural winner at a ceremony at the Onehunga retail centre last week, attended by Blues players Dalton Papali’i, Che Clark and Payton Spencer.
Ms Iakopo has been instrumental in creating opportunities for her students, many of whom face significant barriers to participating in sport. Amid a nationwide cost-of-living crisis, she regularly helps students who cannot afford essentials like sports gear or the cost of transport to games. The complex issue of getting around the city is a constant challenge for many Auckland families, an issue Auckland Transport continues to grapple with.
For her efforts, Ms Iakopo received a $5000 Dress Smart voucher to spend on brand new sports equipment, ensuring more children have the chance to participate. Her passion for coaching was what inspired her to become a teacher, a journey that has now come full circle with this recognition.
A passion for community and coaching
Those who nominated Ms Iakopo highlighted her role in fostering teamwork, confidence, and a sense of belonging. Lauri Solecki, centre manager for Dress Smart Onehunga, said the judging panel was overwhelmed by the testimony to Ms Iakopo’s impact.
"She is phenomenal," Ms Solecki says. "She gives up her time, she puts in the effort, and she coaches a number of teams through rugby, ripper and touch. She’s not just coaching. She’s building a community. She’s helping these students to build self-worth and a sense of belonging.“
The importance of sport in forging community and cultural identity is a cornerstone of many South Auckland schools. Local organisations like Aktive work to provide such opportunities, understanding that for many young Pasifika people, sport is a powerful link to heritage and wellbeing. Initiatives promoting traditional games alongside modern sports help strengthen this connection, fostering pride and participation from a young age. With over 100 sport teacher jobs currently advertised in Auckland, the demand for dedicated educators like Ms Iakopo who can build these connections is clear.
The work of volunteers and dedicated teachers is vital, especially in areas where community bonds are essential for overcoming challenges. The suburb of Papatoetoe has previously seen its community rally together in the face of adversity, and leaders like Ms Iakopo are central to building that resilience in the next generation.
'A huge role model'
Ms Solecki also emphasised Ms Iakopo’s influence as a woman in a male-dominated field. "She’s a female in a male-dominated sport. She’s a huge role model for all the girls at her school, and she just gives so much," she says.
The support from professional teams like the Blues is a significant boost for grassroots sport. This initiative runs parallel to other efforts to support local clubs, such as a recent $80,000 boost for South Auckland sports clubs, demonstrating a growing recognition of the need for support at the community level. While communities across the globe debate funding for local programmes, with some cities like San Diego even proposing cuts to safety teams, Auckland is seeing the private sector step up to fill crucial gaps. A second winner of the Kitted for Greatness award will be announced later this month.
An emotional and 'perfect' farewell
For Ms Iakopo, the award came at a deeply poignant moment. She is expecting her first child and has recently stepped back from her coaching duties, making this her last term at the school.
"The timing couldn’t be any more perfect," Ms Iakopo says. "I’m currently expecting, so last term was a little bit hard because that was my last tournament with my school. This is the first ever term I won’t be coaching a sport, just so I can look after our little blessing on the way. It’s a bit of an emotional rollercoaster."
The strength of the relationships she built was evident at the award ceremony, where she was joined by a group of past and present students she had invited to share in the experience.
I have really good relationships with some of the parents, and I wanted to pay them back for always having my back and helping me with trainings, gear and everything. I thought I’d bring them along for the experience, even though they’ve moved on from the school as well. I also try and make the effort to watch their tournaments outside of school, just to build that relationship as well.
While she is taking a break to focus on her growing family, Ms Iakopo says her passion for coaching remains strong and she hopes to return to it in the future.
"Once we make the memories with our little blessing first, then hopefully I can ease back in and get straight back into sports," she says.
