Source: Gumboot Friday
Raising funds for free and timely counselling for Kiwis aged 5-25 in need.
Friday 6 November 2026
4-6pm / The Trusts Arena, Henderson, Auckland
Cheer them on. Have a throw. Back the cause.
Why we are throwing
602 people in Aotearoa New Zealand died by suspected suicide in the year to June 2026.
Many of them young people.
Help young people get support.
Gumboot Friday funds free and timely counselling for Kiwis aged 5-25 in need. Our world record attempt is a chance to come together, raise funds and get behind that work.
Cheer on the squad. Have a throw. Donate.
Olympians, celebrities and community members. Public and junior attempts. Food trucks, a DJ and free coffee.
6 November / 4-6pm / The Trusts Arena, Henderson, Auckland
Source: Chief Coroner / Health New Zealand, 2025/26 suicide statistics.
1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026. Provisional suspected suicide figures; subject to change.
Back the squad. Back the cause.
Every throw has a purpose.
Help more young Kiwis access free and timely counselling when they need it.
SCAN TO DONATE
Or tap the link below to support Gumboot Friday through Givealittle.
TAP HERE TO DONATE
Secure donation via Givealittle: https://givealittle.co.nz/donate/fundraiser/i-am-hope-aims-to-dismantle-the-stigma-around
Meet the people behind the attempt
The following pages introduce the athletes and celebrity throwers joining our Gumboot Throw Squad.
Brent Newdick
Olympian / Commonwealth silver medallist
Brent represented New Zealand in decathlon at the London 2012 Olympics and won silver at the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Recent form
Coming out of retirement to take on the gumboot world record attempt.
Fun fact
Brent has already competed in a European gumboot-throwing competition and met the current world record holder.
Lauren Bruce
Two-time Olympian / Hammer thrower
Lauren is a two-time Olympian and the Oceania hammer record holder, with a personal best of 74.61m.
Recent form
Silver at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, throwing 69.82m.
Fun fact
Before specialising in hammer, Lauren also competed internationally in discus. She has described hammer throwing as a dance.
Anthony Barmes
Commonwealth Games hammer thrower
Anthony is a New Zealand hammer thrower and 2026 Commonwealth Games representative.
Recent form
A 72.66m personal best in April 2026, followed by sixth place at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Fun fact
Volleyball was once his main sport. At 6ft 3in, Anthony was considered a little short for elite volleyball, so he took up hammer throwing instead.
Alex Wood
Two-time NZ javelin champion
Alex is a two-time New Zealand javelin champion who has represented Aotearoa at the Oceania Championships.
Won the 2026 national title with a personal best of 73.82m, then represented NZ at the Oceania Championships.
Alex is also known as dreadlockjavboy. His javelin run-up and release should make him an interesting prospect on the throwing line.
Hamish Legarth
Olympian / Sprint kayaker
Hamish is a New Zealand sprint kayaker, a 12-time national champion and a finalist at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Recent form
Returned from the 2026 World Championships in Poland and is training towards the LA 2028 Olympics.
Fun fact
Hamish cycled 4,500km across Africa for charity last year.
Kaleb Sola
Hammer / Javelin thrower
Kaleb has represented Samoa at the Oceania Championships and won New Zealand national medals across youth, junior and senior hammer and javelin. His father, Shaka, competed for Samoa at the 2004 Olympics.
Recent form
2026 Polynesian hammer champion, now chasing the Samoan national hammer record.
Fun fact
Kaleb earned a wildcard into the North Island team for the national gumboot competition after competing at the Rural Games.
Connor Brady
NZ U18 decathlete
At 17, Connor is an emerging New Zealand decathlete with 13 New Zealand Championship titles and 22 national championship medals across events including pole vault, hurdles, javelin and shot put.
Recent form
Represented NZ at the Oceania Championships, winning silver in the U18 shot put and U18 4x100m relay. He also won U18 decathlon silver at the Australian Championships with the New Zealand Secondary Schools team.
Fun fact
Connor started competitive athletics at five years old. Twelve years on, he is still competing across ten events.
Seth Gibson
New Zealand softballer
A powerful left-handed hitter, Seth is a member of the New Zealand Black Sox and represents North Harbour at the National Fastpitch Championship.
Won silver with the Black Sox at the 2025 WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup and was named in the nine-man All-World team. His two home runs helped NZ reach the Grand Final.
Fun fact
Seth’s young sons are following in his footsteps, beginning their own softball journeys through tee-ball.
Nikko Boxall
New Zealand international footballer
Nikko is a New Zealand international defender whose career has taken him through Germany, Finland, Denmark, the United States and the A-League with Wellington Phoenix.
Recent form
Represented Auckland City at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, in a group featuring Bayern Munich, Benfica and Boca Juniors. He started against Bayern.
Fun fact
His older brother Michael is also an All White.
Liam Ngchok-Wulf
Shot putter / Samoa
Liam is a shot putter representing his homeland of Samoa. Proud to join the Gumboot Throwing Squad, he’s keen to have a crack at a world record.
Looking ahead to the 2027 athletics season, Liam says he is the fittest and strongest he has ever been and is excited to see what he can produce.
Fun fact
Away from throwing, Liam enjoys getting together with friends. When he’s not with them, you’ll usually find him gaming.
Nathaniel Sulupo
Shot put / Discus / Samoa
Another Samoan-Kiwi powerhouse is joining the squad. Wellington-based Nathaniel represents Samoa in shot put and discus, with senior bests of 16.96m and 53.32m. Now he is travelling up from Welly to have a crack at a gumboot world record.
Recent form
Threw 16.09m to finish fourth in the shot put at the 2026 International Track Meet in Christchurch. Named in Samoa’s squad for both shot put and discus at the 2026 Oceania Championships in Darwin.
Fun fact
Coached by Shaka Sola, Nathaniel has recorded competition marks in four throwing events: shot put, discus, hammer and javelin.
Profile sources: Athletics NZ rankings / Oceania Athletics
Paige Fletcher
NZ U17 hammer record holder
At 17, Paige is New Zealand’s U17 hammer record holder, with national titles at U16, U18 and U20 level.
Recent form
The Australian and Oceania U18 champion is heading into the new season targeting 58-60 metres with the 4kg hammer.
Fun fact
Outside the throwing circle, Paige also plays representative rugby.
Melelosaline “Line” Lose
Discus / Waikato
Melelosaline “Line” Lose is a discus thrower from Waikato. She claimed bronze in the senior women’s discus at the New Zealand Track and Field Championships in March 2026.
Recent form
Qualified for the World Athletics U20 Championships and was named a reserve for New Zealand.
Shyah Hale
New Zealand softballer / Boxer
Shyah Hale has represented the New Zealand White Sox at WBSC World Cup Qualifiers in Italy and the United States. Domestically, she represents Auckland and the Waitakere Bears Softball Club.
Recent form
At the 2026 World Cup Qualifier in Oklahoma with the NZ White Sox, she launched two home runs and scored seven RBIs.
Fun fact
Shyah “The Kidd” Hale is also a boxer, with her professional debut scheduled for 30 October. Next up: joining the Gumboot Throw Squad.
Celebrity throwers
Mike King
I Am Hope founder / Comedian
Mike turned a career making New Zealand laugh into a mission to help young people talk openly about mental health. He founded I AM HOPE and Gumboot Friday.
Recent form
I AM HOPE has delivered 171,334 free counselling sessions since 2019.
Fun fact
In 2021, Mike walked 100km around Auckland Domain in gumboots to raise money for kids’ counselling.
Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi
TIFF Rising Star / Actor
Dimitrius broke out as Will ‘Ilolahia in The Panthers, earning a TIFF Rising Star honour. His credits also include Red, White & Brass.
Starred as Dek, the lead Predator, opposite Elle Fanning in Predator: Badlands (2025), filmed in New Zealand.
Fun fact
To play Dek, Dimitrius learned an invented Predator language over Zoom.
Vinnie Bennett
Actor / TIFF Rising Star
Māori: Kāi Tahu (Ngāi Tūāhuriri), Ngāti Porou (Te Aowera), Ngāpuhi. Vinnie played young Dominic Toretto in F9: The Fast Saga. His screen credits also include Whina, Testify and Good Grief.
Recent form
Appeared on Celebrity Treasure Island. Recent screen credits include Black Snow season two and Heart Eyes.
Fun fact
Before F9, Vinnie moved north from Christchurch to Auckland in a Ford Laser to pursue acting.
Jordi Webber
Actor / Musician
Rotorua-raised actor and musician Jordi went from boy band Titanium to the Gold Ranger in Power Rangers Ninja Steel. His screen credits include Home and Away, Head High and Choose Love.
Stars as gladiator Tarchon in Spartacus: House of Ashur.
Fun fact
Gumboot throwing is already part of his whānau’s Christmas games.
Fleur Saville
Actor / Producer / Shorty icon
Fleur became a Kiwi television favourite as Libby Jeffries on Shortland Street, after starring in Being Eve and The Tribe. She has also worked as an actor and producer in Los Angeles.
Recent form
Returned to Shortland Street as Libby in 2025-26, with a guest role in The Brokenwood Mysteries, series 12.
Fun fact
Whilst living in LA, Fleur guided Kate Moss through an ice bath.
KINGS
Rapper / Singer / Producer
An award-winning Kiwi rapper, singer, producer and solo dad, KINGS broke through with Don’t Worry ’Bout It and has kept crowds moving with his original music ever since.
Recent form
Headlined Nelson’s Matariki festival this year, performing to a celebration attended by more than 10,000 people.
Fun fact
KINGS filmed the Don’t Worry ’Bout It music video on his phone in Fiji and edited it on the flight home.
Richie Hardcore
Speaker / Educator / Former Muay Thai champion
Richie Hardcore is a speaker, educator and advocate whose work explores masculinity, mental health and ending sexual and domestic violence. A multiple New Zealand Muay Thai champion, he now owns a gym and works as a coach and trainer.
Beyond the ring
Richie is a White Ribbon New Zealand ambassador and features in the Ministry of Social Development’s Change is Possible campaign. Through his charitable trust, he uses Muay Thai and kickboxing to mentor people leaving the justice system, in alternative education or in alcohol and drug rehabilitation.
Fun fact
Alongside his fighting titles, Richie holds a master’s degree in sociology.
Sam V
Anthem singer
The one and only soul king Sam V is joining us as our anthem singer this Gumboot Friday. Come hear Sam sing and cheer on the Gumboot Throw Squad as athletes, celebrities and community members have a crack at bringing the world records home.
Friday 6 November / 4-6pm
The Trusts Arena, Henderson
Come for the big throws. Give for the big purpose.
Support free and timely counselling for Kiwis aged 5-25 in need.
Donate via Givealittle: https://givealittle.co.nz/donate/fundraiser/i-am-hope-aims-to-dismantle-the-stigma-around