The classroom chatter is shushed and a respectful silence falls on Tāneatua’s Tīhei Mauri Ora community centre.

The pupils stand completely still in their rows, not even the crinkle of the poi can be heard. It’s as if the whole room has drawn its breath.

That is until the powerful and rhythmic chanting of Tāneatua’s kapa haka group bursts through the quietness.

It is an impressive display of Tāneatua’s pride, strength, and unity. An expression of passion, mana and identity.

Look closer, however, and it’s not a traditional poi. Golf moves have been cleverly incorporated into the choreography in honour of Tāneatua’s AIMS Games golfing champions - Bayleigh Teepa-Tarau, Pedro Robinson and Lincoln Reneti - after last year’s success.

Tāneatua School teacher aide Whetu Wiremu said it is not the normal poi that you would see on a kapa haka stage.

“But it means something to our kids, which is all that matters.”

It’s been a year since Bayleigh sent Tāneatua swinging into the sports headlines. Now, the school is returning to the 2024 games with an even bigger team - including Bayleigh’s sister.

Standing on the tee block in his basketball boots and borrowed clubs, the 12-year-old boy with autism defied the odds by winning the tournament and shining a spotlight on the small rural town south of Whakatāne.

Whetu says Bayleigh’s story and the AIMS Games have had a huge impact on the school, and has since inspired a new set of rising sports stars.

“There are just no words at all that could ever explain how much AIMS Games has changed our community, our school, and these kids. It has dramatically changed in such a positive way,” Whetu said.

“Kids, adults, whanau, and our whole iwi still talk about how much of a success AIMS was for our kids, and they still ask how they are doing with their golf even a year later.”

Last year, three golfers and a netball team represented the school. This time, Tāneatua will be bringing 18 stars - 8 indoor bowlers and 9 golfers, and one basketballer, who will also make up two 3x3 basketball teams - including Bayleigh’s sister Mere Teepa. And just like her brother, Mere is in it to win it.

“I want to play in the AIMS Games because when I saw my brother doing it, I wanted to be like him,” said the 11-year-old as she swings a club with ease and hits a ball straight ahead.

Mere said her big brother has been helping teach her in their back garden, including how to hold a driver, where to put her feet, and how hard to hit the golf ball.

“I want to win,” she said

Even though Bayleigh is now at high school, the school still keeps in contact with the young golfer.

“We still get out there and play with him… he’s doing really well with his golf,” Whetu said. “The kids are enjoying their golf as well. Bayleigh’s like our secret weapon.”

And there was no way Bayleigh was going to miss helping out at this year’s games.

“He is coming back. That is one of our secrets,” Whetu said. “He’s going to help me with a couple of caddie jobs and stuff like that.”

And Bayleigh is no stranger to being on the bag. After all, he was invited by New Zealand golf professional Ryan Fox to caddie for him at the 2023 Chasing the Fox event in Auckland.

“It will be cool for Bayleigh to bring his experience and see if he can help a couple of our kids reach their goals at AIMS. He had no worries coming back to help,” Whetu said.

“A lot of our kids that move on to high school and other jobs they endure in, they always want to give back to our school.”

That includes 2024 Paris Olympic rugby sevens stars Stacey and Beaudein Waaka, whose names are engraved on the school’s hall of fame.

“That just sends a message to the kids that anything is possible,” Whetu said. “You don’t have to be from a big or flash town, a flash school, to be able to make it on the big stage.”

The children have been training as much as they can, with a tutor taking the indoor bowlers to the closest facility in Ōhope, the golfers traveling to do their mahi at Whakatāne Golf Club, and team basketball training at the school during lunchtimes.

Being from a small town with a big heart, Whetu said no one tautokos (supports) their children like Tāneatua does.

The whole community has come together to help fundraise for the children to get to the games, with Whetu, parents and teachers setting up a Facebook page, raffles, and sponsorship forms.

“We’re also going to do three barbecues around the community. Our whole community loves to support our kids, which is pretty special.”

A “special donor” has also come forward to offer an Airbnb for this year’s athletes and supporters to stay during the week-long tournament.  “So the kids are extremely lucky,” Whetu said.

Businesses across the country also began chipping in after hearing of the 2023 golfers’ AIMS success, donating clubs, golf balls, and gear to the young athletes.

Whetu said it’s that support that has left him humbled.

“I always grew up with this saying from my whanau: ‘It takes a village to raise a child’. It’s pretty amazing the support my students got.

“I just want to say a big thank you to every single person who has sent messages, donations, and showed generosity towards my kids. We will always be extremely grateful.”

Pedro Robinson, 12, was part of the winning golf team to be gifted a set of clubs from golf retail store The Clubroom Tauranga last year.

He’s looking forward to using those clubs in this year’s AIMS competition.

“I felt pretty proud last time,” he says. “I want to win again.”But Whetu says it isn’t about winning or losing, because to him, they’ve already won.

“The main thing for me is to give these kids the opportunity to go to AIMS and enjoy that experience.That is a win for me,” he said.

“It means the world to me seeing these kids get out of Tāneatua and being able to experience a tournament like the AIMS Games. It makes my heart warm. I am super, super proud.”

Freelance journalist Zoe Hunter is producing content on behalf of this year’s Aims Games.