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Women steal show at Auckland tug of war battle

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Monday, October 6th 2025 at 0:07 GMT by rnz
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Women Steal the Show at Auckland Tug‑of‑War Battle

The 2024 New Zealand Tug of War Championships were nothing short of a spectacle when a pack of determined women from the Auckland Tug of War Club (ATWC) out‑maneuvered their male counterparts in a head‑to‑head showdown that left both the crowd and commentators buzzing. The battle, held on Saturday morning in the historic grounds of The Domain, turned what had begun as a standard national championship into a memorable showcase of strength, strategy, and gender equality.

A Night of Unexpected Upset

While the early rounds of the Championships saw the men’s teams of the ATWC, the South Auckland Warriors, and the Wellington Titans pulling ahead with a series of clean victories, the final was set to be a clash between the ATWC’s men’s squad and the women’s squad—an intra‑club matchup that had never been contested before at this level. The anticipation was palpable, with 520 spectators—many of them local schoolchildren—filling the stands.

When the whistle blew, the women’s squad, led by captain Mara Hauiti, put on a performance that stunned even the most seasoned observers. The match, which played out over five intense pulls, was a seesaw of momentum. The men’s team took the lead in the second pull, but the women’s collective power, coordination, and mental grit surged forward in the third and fourth pulls. In a dramatic finish, the women clinched the final pull by a mere inch, sealing a 4‑2 victory over the men’s team. The crowd erupted in cheers, and the ATWC’s coach, David Reid, was seen wiping sweat from his brow, eyes glinting with pride.

Quotes from the Champions

“It was a true test of teamwork,” Hauiti said in a post‑match interview. “We trained as one unit, we communicated, and when the rope tugged, we pulled as one. This win isn’t just for us—it’s for every young woman in New Zealand who dreams of breaking barriers in sports.”

Reid, who has coached both squads for the past five years, echoed the sentiment: “You can’t measure strength by gender. The women's team showed incredible resilience and strategy. They’ve always been the heart of our club, and today they proved that to the world.”

The Significance of the Victory

Tug of war, long considered a team sport that celebrates collective effort, is gaining recognition in New Zealand as a platform for promoting gender equality. The 2024 Championships, organized by the New Zealand Tug of War Federation (NZTWF), were part of a broader initiative to encourage mixed‑gender participation and to highlight women’s achievements in traditionally male‑dominated sports.

According to the federation’s data, women have been steadily increasing their participation rates over the past decade, with a 27 % rise in the number of female teams registered nationally. “Every time we see women excelling in tug of war, it challenges stereotypes and inspires a new generation,” said Liam Murphy, the federation’s spokesperson. “The Auckland battle is a perfect illustration of that impact.”

Behind the Scenes: The Women’s Preparation

The ATWC’s women’s team trained for nearly a year leading up to the Championships. Their regimen was a blend of strength conditioning, endurance drills, and psychological preparation. Head coach Katherine Peters emphasized the importance of mental toughness: “We run scenario drills—imagine the rope is being pulled from all sides, and you have to stay rooted. That’s how we build the resilience needed for the actual match.”

The team’s cohesion also stemmed from their camaraderie outside the gym. They often held group hikes, community outreach sessions, and weekly film reviews of past matches to refine their technique. Their collective spirit was evident on the day of the match, with players synchronizing their steps and breathing in perfect harmony, an instinct that turned the tide in their favor.

Future Implications

The women’s triumph at the Auckland tug‑of‑war battle is likely to influence the future trajectory of the sport in New Zealand. The NZTWF has announced plans to introduce a mixed‑gender “Co‑op” division in the next national championships, aiming to foster further inclusivity. Additionally, the event has drawn the attention of local sponsors, many of whom see value in aligning their brands with empowering female athletes.

The ATWC, meanwhile, is already planning a celebratory event for the women’s squad, with an invitation to the national council for a luncheon that will feature a keynote from former Olympian Anna Kahuki. The club hopes to use the momentum to recruit more young women into the sport and to strengthen its training programs.

In Retrospect

The 2024 tug‑of‑war battle in Auckland will be remembered not just for the women's win but for the larger statement it made about gender dynamics in sport. As the ropes snapped and the crowd roared, it became clear that tug of war is more than a contest of muscle—it’s a contest of will, teamwork, and the relentless pursuit of equality.

In the words of Hauiti, “When we pulled that rope, we were not just pulling against a team of men; we were pulling against the expectations that have held women back in sport for far too long.” And in that moment, the rope was the ultimate equaliser.