Napier Boys’ High School students perform haka for brave young boy
A Hawke’s Bay boy with spinal muscular atrophy is now part of the ‘Sky Blue Brotherhood’ thanks to Napier Boys’ High School’s group of prefects.
Tama Hubbard celebrated his milestone surprise fourth birthday at Brookfield Winery on Sunday in front of family, friends, and members of the wider community.
Twenty-four prefects performed a rousing haka and presented Tama with a specially made wooden shield and NBHS summer school shirt that both have the words “Sky Blue Brother” on it.
When prefect George Bergman heard about Tama’s story through his mum who used to work with the boy’s aunt, he did not hesitate to organise something special.
Sky Blue is the school’s colour, and the brotherhood symbolises how they are “all brothers and part of the same team”.
George said they just wanted to do something nice for Tama and let him know that he had a special place at NBHS.
“I found it great doing something for someone else that we don’t know, and it was a special moment for the prefects and Tama himself.
“Tama was a bit shy when we did the haka but that’s something he will remember and I’m sure the perfects will as well.
It is particularly symbolic given that Tama “absolutely loves” the haka.
“It just blew us away and we thought it was so lovely for a bunch of teenage boys to do this. And it was on a Sunday, so it was in their own time which is really cool,” aunty Alana Geddes said.
For the past five weeks, Lisa Geddes’ three sisters have secretly been organising a fourth birthday party to remember for their nephew.
What originally began as a small surprise party quickly ballooned into something far bigger than they ever imagined.
“We had an idea for a superhero party and the community has gone above and beyond, so it’s pretty amazing, Alana said.
They posted on Facebook asking if anybody who might like to help could by making a cake etc.
But word quickly spread, and before they knew it, they had a party worth $5000 to $6000, with Planit Events, the Mad Platter, and Brookfiields Winery, among others, coming on board.
They had face painters, photographers, balloons from Mardigras Event Hire, DJ equipment from Volume DJ, styling by Sass & Co Styling, games from Mister Murdoch, among others.
Two police dog handlers and their dogs also made an appearance. A hamper filled with vouchers and gifts was also given to Tama and his family.
Although he was born in Hawke’s Bay, Tama has lived most of his life in Taupo. They have just recently moved back to the region to be closer to family.
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic disease affecting the central nervous system, peripheral nervous system, and voluntary muscle movement (skeletal muscle).
