The Hawke’s Bay Magpies have unveiled Tauawhi, this year’s charity jersey, a design that turns the team’s black and white into a visual story about strength, connection and recovery, worn in support of local mental health charity Mates4Life.
Tauawhi means to embrace and provide comfort, and the design, by local artist Tim Whaitiri-Henderson, is built around that idea. At its centre is a circle representing the individual, surrounded by whānau, friends, teammates, workmates and community.
Around it, the haehae pattern speaks to the challenges and adversity we face on life’s journey, and the growth that comes from them, while pakati represents the protection, support and care we offer others in times of need. Together they form rauponga, endurance through adversity and the protection that comes from staying connected to whānau, whenua and community.
The Magpies will wear the jersey for their Round 6 home fixture against Otago at McLean Park on Friday 4 September, this year’s Charity Match.
Replica jerseys are now open for pre-order, with the playing jerseys to be auctioned afterwards through Trade Me. Every jersey sold goes toward Mates4Life’s goal of raising $19,700 to train another 100-plus Hawke’s Bay locals to recognise the signs, start a conversation, and connect someone to support.
Mates4Life General Manager Tyson Ataera says the design captures exactly what the charity is trying to achieve.
“When we sat down with Tim and talked about what this jersey needed to say, we kept coming back to one idea: nobody gets through hard times on their own. You can see that in the design. There’s a person at the centre, and everyone else standing around them. That’s what Mates4Life is about. It’s about making sure people have someone in their corner.”
“The black through to white is the part that gets me. It’s the journey. It’s not pretending everything’s fine, it’s showing the actual walk from struggling to okay. That’s real, and that’s what we teach people to recognise in each other.”
“Rugby jerseys get people talking in this region like nothing else. If pulling this one on starts a conversation that saves a life, that’s the whole job done.”
Hawke’s Bay Rugby Sponsorship Manager Dan Sommerville says the jersey is the standout moment of a partnership the union is proud to back.
“This is the piece everyone waits for. Every year the charity jersey gives us a chance to put something meaningful on the paddock, and this design does that better than most. Tim has taken a genuinely tough subject and made something people will want to wear and talk about.”
“We had 28 charities apply this year, which tells you how much need there is out there. Mates4Life stood out because their work is practical. They’re training real people in real workplaces to spot the signs and know what to say. A jersey is a small thing next to that, but if it helps fund more of that training, it’s doing its job.”
“Come on the Bay! Let’s get behind Mates4Life and raise awareness as well as funds that ensure the programmes reach more locals who need them.”
Now in its seventh year, the Magpies and TotalEnergies NZ charity jersey initiative has become one of the most anticipated moments on the Hawke’s Bay rugby calendar. TotalEnergies NZ continues to cover production costs, so pre-order and auction proceeds go straight toward the $19,700 target.
Pre-orders are open now at sporty.co.nz/magpies/charity-jersey-pre-purchase. Fans wanting a piece of match-day history can register interest in the Trade Me auction closer to game day. One community, one team, one conversation – let’s back the Bay.
