Rotorua shot putter Manaia Christiansen powers towards World Athletics U20 Championships podium
Manaia Christiansen has been selected to represent New Zealand in shot put at the 2026 World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon.
Manaia Christiansen’s hands move through the air as he describes the “certain feeling” of a “really good” shot put throw.
“Sorry, I’m really passionate about this,” Christiansen said to the Rotorua Daily Post.
The New Zealand men’s U20 number one compares throwing to water.
Everything “flows” as technique and strength work in sync, and the shot put releases easily from his hand.
Christiansen, 19, will take that feeling to the World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon.
His qualifying throw was 18.30m.
A 20m throw is his “bare minimum” expectation for the competition in August.
The “ultimate goal” is a medal - being on the podium was something he had dreamed about for years.
The University of Waikato student said he was “constantly getting breakthroughs” in training.
Christiansen balanced those around a busy schedule studying a conjoint degree in Māori and management at the University of Waikato. Christiansen has Samoan, Tongan and Māori heritage.
But fitting throwing into his weekly routine was nothing new.
He had been doing it since Rotorua Primary School, when his father, Pita Christiansen, spotted his potential during an athletics day discus event.
His dad was a “bit of a beast” at rugby “back in his day”, Christiansen said. It was another sport Christiansen excelled in.
The pair ordered a discus online and started “messing around with it” at home.
“We’re pretty competitive,” Christiansen said, and he soon became “absolutely unbeatable”.
Shot put entered the mix and competition naturally intensified as he got older and moved on to Rotorua Boys’ High School.
Christiansen said “really knowing how to throw properly” early gave him the edge he still carried today.
Last year, he finished second in discus and won shot put with a “monster throw” at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships.
Christiansen said he was mainly self-taught, although he credited much of that breakthrough to “awesome coach” John Eden, with whom he began training through Lake City Athletics.
“That guy’s knowledge was insane,” he said.
“He gave me a perspective on throwing that I didn’t even think about.”
Christiansen was “so grateful” for the love from his supporters.
He described himself as “enthusiastic and theatrical”, but felt “pretty introverted” when it came to his sport.
Fundraising for Oregon was the first time he had asked for help.
He started a Givealittle page to cover travel, accommodation, competition and training costs.
Donations soon came from near and far, with some supporters giving thousands of dollars.
His mother, Lita Mahy, helped push the page through community networks in Australia. Her dance community alone came together with a donation of about $1500 “all in one hit”, Christiansen said.
His uncle, former international rugby player Filipo Levy, also shared the page through his own connections and businesses.
Christiansen had now reached his $10,000 goal.
He was overwhelmed by the number of “loving” people willing to make “sacrifices” to help him compete overseas during a cost-of-living crisis.
“I just want to do them justice.”
They were “great motivators”.
“I’m super honoured to be able to take them on my journey with me,” Christiansen said.
Annabel Reid is a multimedia journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and the Rotorua Daily Post, based in Rotorua. Originally from Hawke’s Bay, she has a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Canterbury.