- Korihi e aku manu topatopa ki runga ki te rangi. Takiri mai ana te ata i runga i te toi huarewa o nga ariki. Ka tiariaria kua tuarehu. Matarua i te angaanga. Kapua tairangi ka oti atu. Ko Te Hui ano tenei ka riakina, ka mahuta ake. Ka puta ki te whei ao ki te ao marama. Whano, whano, hara mai te tokio. Haumi e, hui e, taiki e! This week on The Hui ` From Pipiwai to the world stage. - Here she is ` Lani Daniels. - Lani Daniels opens up about the struggles she's overcome to be a world-champion boxer. - I think that's the fight. It's you versus you and what's going on up here. (CHUCKLES) And I think that's always been my biggest challenge. - Now she's preparing for her biggest fight yet. - The fighting spirit in you ` where does that come from? - Pipiwai? Nah. (LAUGHS) They breed them pretty tough up there. - Plus, a special tribute to James Cross ` the vibrant son of Isey who devoted his life to care for her. E moe e James. Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2025 Nga manu whititua kua wehe ki roto i nga iwi. Nga mate o te wa Haere mai, haere. Tatou kei te pito ora, tihewa mauriora! And welcome back to The Hui. Raised on a farm in Northland's Pipiwai, 36-year-old Lani Daniels won two boxing world titles in 2023. And now she has her sights set on the biggest fight yet. Mea nei te purongo a Kayne Ngatokowha Peters. (INTENSE MUSIC) - You're always pushing yourself to your limits. That's the mental aspect of the game that I love. I feel like I can do anything. I'm going to be the best of the best. People will probably think I'm, like, mad. Ko Te Arani Moana Daniels toku ingoa. Engari, people know me as Lani or the Smiling Assassin. (CHUCKLES) - Inside, inside, inside. That's it. That's it. - For the last two years, Lani Daniels has been training at this warehouse in Tamaki Makaurau ki te uru. At the Rebel Lee Gar Gym, it's equal rights, equal fights. - Up and down. - Is there a difference between sparring with a woman and a man? - Yeah, I think women are way more aggressive. Technically it's better to spar a guy, I think, because they allow you time to do whatever you need to do, where a woman ` they just come at you flying. Women's fights are actually more exciting to watch. - This 36-year-old wahine toa is the IBF heavyweight and light heavyweight world champion. - ANNOUNCER: Lani Daniels! (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) - I'm a boxer. I'm a fighter. (LAUGHS) - Just firing away. - And behind every world champion is a world-class trainer. - Wise words from The Rebel John Conway ` one of New Zealand's top boxing referees. - I reckon I've got the best corner man. He's so knowledgeable. His IQ is, like, next level. I've never seen anything like it. I thought I was sharp, but no, he's pretty sharp, Mr Conway. - As a girl with a bucket load of talent, she just needs somebody to show her the right way. - Ask him who's the boss. Go, ask him. - I don't have to ask. - You know, eh. (LAUGHS) - Bit of underlay. - John 'The Rebel' Conway is a well-known trainer, international referee, and former professional boxer. - (GRUNTS) - She has got a lot of potential. Certain things a true fighter has that you can't teach, she's got. But she just didn't know what tools to pull out of the toolbox to get the job done, you know. Her fitness wasn't up to scratch. So I thought, 'All these things I can fix.' - And Lani gets her fix here in John's workshop/gym. - She's my boss. It's a unique relationship ` a boxer and a trainer. Like, she's my boss, but every minute of the day, I tell her what to do. But it's what I have to do to look after her. And if you get a clown training and a boxer ` they don't know what they're doing ` people's lives are at risk. You've got to remember, people die in this sport, you know. - When was the moment you knew that John was the person to take you to where you are today? - Well, I don't talk about it as much as I should, because it's too close to my heart. Because it will make me cry, because I feel so grateful for what he's done for me. And I think, 'Why? Like, why do you do it?' Like, he looks after me so much? We're coming up to eight years of knowing each other, and it's been the last two years I've been here, and it's all just fuelled our relationship. And we've just gotten tighter and tighter and gotten to know each other better and better. And I think to achieve at the top level, you need someone in your corner that knows you. (BELL DINGS) - It's a connection that's more than just boxing. - We're pretty much like family. - He's like whanau to me, and I hold him up there with my mum and dad. - A couple of years ago, she said, 'Look, if I have to do this, if we're gonna fight for world titles, 'then I have to stay here because I get too distracted up home.' We both decided that she just needs to sleep on the couch and sleep (CHUCKLES) in among the boxing bags. And she does, and it works perfectly. Works fine. - Because I always talk to John, too, about how lazy I am, but then I think, 'Lucky I'm so smart,' because then I put strategies in place to counteract the laziness. (LAUGHS) So it's like working smarter, not harder. Because, like, as soon as I'm gone from here, I forget I'm a boxer. So it's like, I know if I want to win and I want to be the best, I have to be here. - Makes me feel I'm glad I'm here for her, you know? - Even though Lani's a world champ, she's not yet widely known. - Let's move. Come on then! - The first time Lani started getting international attention was outside the ring. She competed in the SAS UK Who Dares Wins TV show. - Yeah, the Sas ` SAS. - How did you get involved in that? - They messaged me. I thought it was one of those scams when they initially did it, but then they set up an interview. I was like, 'Oh yeah? If John says yeah,' because it was about five weeks out from my first title defence. And so John said, 'Yeah, all good, just don't get hurt.' So in my head, all I had was, 'Don't get hurt. John said don't get hurt.' That was the first time I'd been on a plane by myself, let alone going to be isolated with a bunch of pommies. As the days go on, you start looking haggard and, like, it was survival. Survival of the fittest. They start taking away your kai. The TV show actually doesn't do it justice, I think. Like, it was way harder than what it looked like. Because it's 24-7. You're on edge the whole time. There's no rest. So during the night, they'll randomly come in and, like, raid us and tell us, 'Get up, get up, get up!' We had chores that we had to do. Everyone started getting angry at each other for making noise because you couldn't sleep. It was one of the best experiences of my life, I would say. Like, it was pretty cool. It's only eight days, but it felt way longer than that. - And you won. - Yeah, I finished. It was pretty hard. - What did you win? - Pride. (LAUGHS) Self pride. Bragging rights. That's what I won. You get paid to go on the show, but you don't win anything. - How do you make money as a professional boxer? - Well, we get paid for fights. But at the moment, if we're a business, we're in the red. I have a value in my head what Lani's worth. And I think it's reasonable, and I think it's fair, and hopefully we'll get a decent payday. - ANNOUNCER: Claressa! - Winning against American champ Claressa Shields is Lani's ultimate goal. - Extremely good boxer. Fast, powerful, good punch selection. - Boxing's quite a shark world, like, in terms of... - The business side? - The business side of things and the politics. Like, I don't like confrontation, conflict. I'll try to be the peacekeeper, but it's hard to be one of those people in this sport. Otherwise you'll just be run over. - Claressa Shields earns about 1.5 million USD per fight. - She's worth the money because she's a very good boxer indeed. - Can you beat her? - Yeah. (LAUGHS) Silly question. If I stay true to the kaupapa, cos I'm still human. But as long as I'm here, John's here, it helps me. It's preparing me to beat them. - The fighting spirit in you ` where does that come from? - Pipiwai? Nah. (LAUGHS) They breed them pretty tough up there. - Coming up ` - I coped with it by not caring. - Lani's biggest fight yet. - I had my parents on edge, hoping that I was going to live through it. - And the lives she's changing. - Come on, let's go! Go! Punch! - Ko hoki mai ano koutou ki ta tatou hui hakinakina, ta tatou mekemeke, ta tatou hui a whanau. Lani Daniels knows what it takes to fight for fame and fortune. But it hasn't come without a price. We take a look back at where it all began for this wahine toa and the people who have always been in her corner. (LIGHT ACOUSTIC MUSIC) - I'm one of nine siblings that my mum and dad had together. But we also had our older cousin, Rangihaeata, who was brought up with us as well. Yeah, so I'm number six of the pack, so I was the middle child. And I'm born-and-bred Pipiwai-an. (CHUCKLES) - Lani was raised on a farm north of Whangarei. - It's a huge part of who I am. It laid the foundation to be able to cope with the challenges life throws at us. - It's a place where giving your best comes from having faith. - That's what I grew up with in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and my parents are still strong, active members. My dad's the branch president, which is like the bishop. And he was it for about seven years during my teenage years. - And as a middle child, Lani is always reminded of her place in the family. - You could not! She couldn't cook to save herself. - I just don't have to cook. - If she had to fry an egg, she probably could do that. But it was always the older ones that, you know, if we were out doing stuff, well, it'll be the older sisters, and the boy, that one, Mikey. They'd be the ones. - Because of how much it's done for our life, I think it'd always be an important part of me. And I wouldn't be me if I wasn't raised in the church and being Maori. Should we open up this package? What do youse think it is? - I don't know. - Whoo-hoo! Oh look, they're like little kids' ones that we can do for you. - Te toanga o taku kotiro, a Lani, ka miharo taku iwi. Na taku iwi whakatipu; na matou katoa i whakatipu. I roto i te reo Pakeha... - My first memory of fighting was with my siblings. We used to like, roll around like cats and dogs. It's kind of that pecking order, especially when your parents weren't there ` the oldest become boss, and the oldest would shift out, and then the next one starts telling you what to do, and you don't want a bar of that, so we were always fighting as siblings and cousins as well. - Lani and her younger brother, Tukaha, had a special bond. - Oh... (CHUCKLES) I don't` normally I'm quite good at talking about him now. Um, he's... he was 11, so he probably was my biggest sparring partner. Like, he was quite staunch. I think he would have been a mean boxer ` just as ahua ` like, he was staunch. - Tukaha was 11 when he passed away from leukaemia. - I think that was the catalyst of me behaving in a certain way. I coped with it by not caring. And I suppose when you don't care, you can't be hurt. And I would look for that quick fix to try and get happy. Um, which was alcohol and drugs, which was like a 10-year process. So I would have been 14, and then I found boxing at 24. So it was that 10 year` 10 years of kind of wasted life where I had my parents on edge, hoping that I was going to live through it. That was my way of coping with my brother's passing ` just block it ` it didn't happen ` and just carry on. - Lani was studying to be a nurse, but her life was also spinning out of control. - Failing my nursing, when I failed that first semester, it felt like I had burned all my bridges, self-sabotaged so much so that there was no point of return. - The turning point was watching her older sister compete in a boxing match. - My sister joined the Fight For Life for Canteen show in Te Awamutu, and I just saw how much her life` She was just, like, a on a natural high. And she had this glow about her. She was just happy. - She could see the benefit that that was having and the positive impact that was having on my life, and she wanted to have that too. Yeah, I just encouraged her to come, because everyone's gotta start somewhere. You just gotta do it. As uncomfortable as it is, you just gotta do it. - Lani and her whanau carry on Tukaha's memory by running a boxing gym for Pipiwai youth. - One, one, two, roll, roll. OK? Hands are on your face unless they're punching. And if they're not, I'm gonna whack you with that noodle. And maybe just go in a little bit closer to the bag so it doesn't feel like you're reaching. Yeah. Yeah. So we've named our gym after my brother Tukaha, which is pretty cool, I reckon, because of the name and the meaning ` like, to stand strong ` and it just aligns so well with boxing. You get better with just practising, practising, practising. So just keep going. - Practising, practising, practising. - Boxing has changed lives. It's changed my life. It's changed my family's life. If we can give back to our community and have it be part of changing their lives... Nice. Good work. ...what bigger success than that? - What are some of the rules that the Rangatahi have to keep up with outside of training, to be able to come and train here? - It is about them succeeding outside of the gym as well. And so for us, that means not getting into trouble at school; doing the right things at school; doing the right things in the community. - Let's go, let's go, let's go! Hit that tyre! - And when they do those things, then they know that they're welcome here to enjoy what Tukaha Boxing has to offer as well. And when they don't, then they know what the consequences are. - How do you feel coming from Pipiwai where there's a world champion boxer from here? - Mean as. You know, proud as of Auntie Lani. - I get to say she's my auntie. (LAUGHS) - Just because you're from Pipiwai, it doesn't mean you can't succeed. That is our superpower. - From rural Pipiwai... to the world stage. (GROUP PERFORM HAKA) - COMMENTATOR: Here she is, Lani Daniels. - Lani's whakapapa plays a big part in her boxing success. Ehara tana toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini. - There's still that element of fear and anxiety and nerves before every fight. - ANNOUNCER: This is the Smiling Assassin, Lani Daniels! (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) - I think that's the fight ` it's you versus you and what's going on up here. (CHUCKLES) And I think that's always been my biggest challenge ` believing in myself and backing myself and not being distracted by the noise and what's going on around me. - Outside the ring, Lani is now a qualified mental health nurse helping whanau. But self doubt is always there. - All the time. I think, yeah, it's just human. It's normal. It's the way humans are. - What do you think of to help your mind when you're in those spaces? - I try to be more on the positive end of the spectrum. I do lots of gratitude. Every day I'd be jotting down things that I'm grateful for, and it's one of those things that you do need to practise it, because we get so caught up with life and noise that we lose touch of that. So it's important to do it like you're training your muscles. Nah. (LAUGHS) Like it's` Yeah, our brain is a muscle, and you have to exercise it. - # In our darkest hour, # we all search for the light. # We all come together. # Yeah, we're gonna be all right. - What's really helped me is surrounding myself with people that keep me accountable and align with the goals that I want to achieve. - # One step at a time. # Working every day. # Looking for a sign. # We will find a way. # Ready for the climb. # We'll make a brighter day # for you and I. # - Put your feet on the ground. Let the rest catch up. Like, I think action is important. Just do and build confidence through doing. Putting myself through this is going to equip me with the knowledge and the teachings that I can use to take home to help my whanau, our people. And that's the ultimate goal. - Tena koe, Lani, a koe tukaha mai na. Now, Lani is a step closer to that fight with Claressa Shields after signing with US-based promoter Salita Promotions. Kia ita tonu mai ra e hoa ma. Taro kau iho ana, he tangi moteatea ki te tamaiti a te kuia morehu a Isey. We pay tribute to kaitiaki, kaimahi and kaimanaaki James Cross after the break. - Nau mai ki ta tatou hui e mihi nei, e tangi nei. Sad news last week with the passing of Northland film star, James Cross. The 68-year-old rose to fame in the endearing local documentary, James & Isey, which showcased their beautiful bond. James was laid to rest at Otiria Marae in Moerewa on Thursday. Ruwani Perera with this mihi to James Cross. - They were an inseparable pair. - It's been, like, over 40 years I've been caregiving 24-7 without a break, but I wouldn't be anywhere else. - A mum-and-son team from Kawakawa who stole our hearts in the 2021 documentary James & Isey. - If you could take one thing from this life to the next? - It'll be my mum. - James Cross planned elaborate birthday parties in honour of his dear mum since she turned 99. Last year, The Hui were invited to Isey Cross' 105th. - My mum is my leading lady always, and she comes number one. - Despite showing all the signs of his stage IV cancer diagnosis, the one thing he didn't share with his mum, nothing could stop James from Isey's 106th birthday bash going ahead last month. - And you only got one mum, and for me... (SNIFFLES) what a beautiful gift to give to your mum. And if I can give that to my mum, I'm so happy I can do that for her. - ALL: # Happy birthday to... # - A son whose devotion to his mother knew no bounds. - Hip-hip! - Hooray! - Kia au te moe. - Hooray! - No reira e hoa James, takahia atu ra te ara namunamu ki taiao. Huri tu mai ano ki a tatou kei te akaaka o te whenua. E te whaea e Isey, kia kaha, kia maia, kia manawanui. Kati ake, kia titiro ake tatou ki a tatou mahi e haere ake ana. Hei te wiki e tu mai nei e hoa ma ` Coming up next week on The Hui ` It's a camp for troubled tane to find their inner child. - Disrupt some unhealthy patterns, expose some of the boys to things they haven't done before. - Kia haerere ki wetahi atu wahi ke, ako i etahi pukenga hou. - Out of their comfort zones and in touch with their feelings. - There were some real emotional times. Real fun times, but just really trying to tune into just what's really going on in here and here. - Come visit, come see it, and you'll see the mauri, the magic. Then you'll know what it's all about. - Ka nui te mihi ki a koutou katoa e nga iwi. Koira nga korero kei te kete a Te Hui i tenei wiki. Erangi, he marama Haratua, he marama puoro, he marama whakamanawa waiata Maori. To celebrate and acknowledge New Zealand Music Month, we leave you with emerging artist, Hope Fuimaono ` a young Auckland-based wahine Maori who has just released her debut single, Pumau. Pumau is a waiata reorua ` a bilingual waiata that embodies the depth of unwavering, unconditional love. Join us next week for another hui. Until then, kia mau ki te turanga o Taputapuatea. Haumi e, hui e, taiki e! - (VOCALISES) # Confide in me. # I will hold you closer. # You know I'll be, # I'll be your shelter. # It's so easy # to care for you, care for you carefully. # Your name ` it drips like honey, # golden sweet upon my lips. # Essence of divine # flowing from the realms they call heaven. # He aroha pumau, mau roa, # e kore rawa e mimiti noa, # piri mai taku hei mapuna. - # Steady. - # Ki te ake, ake. - # I'll be. - # Pumau, ka pumau. - # Steady. - # Ki te ake, ake. - # I'll be. - # Pumau, ka pumau. # Nuku mai nei, # taku hei mokimoki. # Ko au hei piringa # tauawhitia ra. # It's so easy # to care for you, care for you carefully. # He oro mai nuku, # he oro mai rangi. # Takiri te ata hapara, # he awhero ka maewa. # Ka pinea ra # ki te pine o te aroha, # e kore e waikura. # Piri mai, taku hei mapuna. - # Steady. - # Ki te ake, ake. - # I'll be. - # Pumau, ka pumau. - # Steady. - # Ki te ake, ake. - # I'll be. - # Pumau, ka pumau. (VOCALISES) Captions by Jessie Puru. Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2025 (VOCALISES) # Ake, ake. # Pumau, pumau. # - Ko te reo te take. - Na Te Puna Whakatongarewa Te Hui i tautoko.