We asked high-profile young New Zealanders about their reflections of 2013, and their hopes and resolutions for the New Year.
Maia Amai is a young Maori from Whakatane, who is currently living in Auckland. She was in a car fire at 18 months old, bearing brutal scars she was soon diagnosed with a T9 spinal injury caused from a spinal infection, leaving her paralysed from the waist down. This year, she won the Courage in Sport award in the Attitude Awards.
She and her caregiver and friend Letitia Hayter spoke to Megan Whelan.
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Maia has always been very shy, and making decisions was never her thing. Her mum died seven years ago from cancer, and Maia was lost. But in the past three years, so much has changed. The shy girl who hid herself away from the world, will give it ago and do her best. She has a massive heart and gives so much, she loves her family and loves Wheel Chair Rugby, snd her CHING CHONG BRO which is me [Letitia] lol.
So much has been achieved this year, starting with getting her own modified Holden Commodore Sportswagon to roll on, this immediately allowed her to gain more confidence in being more independent. Having a documentary of her life done through the Attitude Programme, being a finalist in the Attitude Courage of Sports award and taking it out was just the most amazing moment.
Tournaments galore, more changes in life, gaining more confidence and continuing to take control of her life making decisions to better herself.
Making her first team selection to play in Australia nationals, representing New Zealand. Being selected as a NZ Wheel Black to play in the Oceania Tournament in South Africa. Raising more than enough funds to buy her own Rugby chair modified especially for her own needs. Been a finalist in the Maori Sports awards 2013 for disabled sports person of the year. Getting most improved player of the 2013 New Zealand nationals.
For Maia, her greatest memory of 2013 would be that now she believes that anything is possible. 2014 is exciting for Maia and she is so looking forward to it. Tournaments galore, more changes in life, gaining more confidence and continuing to take control of her life making decisions to better herself.
Her goals are: definitely training harder; doing her best to keep making the Team; gaining her full license; stepping up her playing ability to another level.
[She wants to] help others in her team, strengthening them in any way she can; help the NZ Wheel Black Team get its World Ranking up; find sponsorship to help fund her traveling; and the ultimate goal would be to make the Wheel Blacks team for the World Champs in Denmark August 2014.
