Pasifika Talent Drives New Zealand Weightlifting Success Heading Into Glasgow Games

A long-term strategy to foster Pasifika talent is yielding significant results as New Zealand prepares for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Of the seven-strong national weightlifting team set to compete this month, four athletes boast Pasifika heritage, marking the culmination of a decade-and-a-half effort to make the sport more accessible to Auckland's southern communities. Weightlifting New Zealand president Simon Kent reflected on the journey that began in 2010. Speaking to RNZ, Kent noted that facilities were previously concentrated in Epsom and on the North Shore, creating geographic barriers for South Auckland youth. The establishment of the Papatoetoe Sports Centre in 2011 changed this landscape, allowing local talent to thrive closer to home. Kent stated that fifteen years later, the organisation is seeing the reward of reducing those barriers and providing young people the opportunity to lift. The current squad includes experienced Olympian David Liti, who will compete in the Men’s +110kg division. He is joined by rising stars like Olivia Selemaia (Women’s 69kg), who joined the Papatoetoe Olympic Weightlifting Club at age 12, and Nelson-based Litia Nacagilevu (Women’s 86kg). Tuʿi-Alofa Patolo also joins the women’s heavyweight division (+86kg), reinforcing the strong Pasifika presence in the national team. International experts are also noting the strength of the Pacific. Paul Coffa, general secretary of Oceania Weightlifting, told RNZ that the natural build and strength of Pacific youth are world-leading. He noted that at the 2022 Birmingham Games, Pacific Island nations secured nine weightlifting medals. Looking ahead to the Glasgow events, roughly one-third of all competitors are expected to hail from the Oceania region. While funding remains a challenge for the national body, Kent remains optimistic that strong performances in GLasgow and the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics could transform the sport's high-performance future in Aotearoa.