Cultivating the future athletes of Tokelau, while preserving fagatua
At this point in his athletic journey, Manū dreams more about the future of Tokelauan sport, and less about his own ambitions on the tatami or mat. He coaches young wrestlers and promotes Tokelauan sport whenever possible.
Of course, no conversation about Tokelauan sport is complete without a mention of a fagatua – a traditional sport Manū has sought to champion and preserve through the publication of an instructional book and clinics targeted at youth athletes.
“Part of my journey and my passion is to revive that sport,” Manū told PMN. “I’ve been trying to encourage more of our young people to take up fagatua or wrestling. We have some young ones in the wrestling clubs now. So when they come of age as well to compete, I would love to have them represent Tokelau.”
For Manū, fagatua has gone from an athletic curiosity to an academic exercise, with the Tokelauan wrestler and judoka conducting PhD research focused on the health and well-being benefits of the traditional sport for Tokelauan youth.
“Fagatua as a cultural practice [has] declined over the years in Tokelau. Compounded by the large migration of Tokelau to New Zealand and other parts of the world, fagatua has widely become a forgotten part of the culture,” he told Tagata Pasifika Plus.
In fact, Manū himself remained oblivious to the sport until a family member passed down their knowledge of it – a transformative moment in his athletic journey.
“Wrestling began to feel more spiritual for me – the more I learned about fagatua and our traditional ways,” he added. “I feel a real sense of belonging, knowing that my ancestors also wrestled and that we, as Tokelau, have our own version of it.”
While Tokelau represents but a tiny speck on the globe – bigger only than the likes of Gibraltar and Monaco by area, and Niue by population – Manū hopes the cultural impacts of fagatua can be far-reaching.
“There are qualities and benefits that reach far beyond the physical elements,” he explained to PMN. “It teaches us parts of our culture, different values, [like] getting along with each other, showing love, compassion and respect.
“With fagatua, there’s a gesture that starts a match where someone initiates a challenge with a pokotau. And in the Tokelauan culture, if someone challenges you, you can’t turn that challenge down.”
It is a fact that Palau’s Skarlee Renguul learned the hard way when he came face-to-face with Manū at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games.