In 2025, the Tokomanawa Queens honoured the life of basketball star Tiana Mangakahia through a powerful tribute - selling a special-edition tee designed by Kiri Nathan and raffling Tiana’s playing singlet during their Piki Pink Round home games. It was a moving celebration of her strength, spirit, and enduring legacy.
In 2026, this partnership continued with a special-edition hoodie as part of Tees for a Cure Winter 2026, carrying Tiana’s story forward and supporting life-saving breast cancer research.
The design reimagines a queen’s crown as a handwoven pare crafted from harakeke - symbolising strength, connection to the whenua, and te ao Māori. Natural fibres replace gold and gems, celebrating resilience, dignity, and the beauty of what grounds us. Paired with the reo Māori phrase “Tukua kia kūini” - Be Queenly, the piece honours Tiana’s journey, her courage, and the spirit of a true queen.
More than a garment, this is a tribute - to her fight, her legacy, and the freedom to live with strength, elegance, and courage.
“Cancer does scare me, but not living life to its full potential scares me even more.”
- Tiana Mangakahia
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In 2025, the Tokomanawa Queens honoured the life of basketball star Tiana Mangakahia through a powerful tribute - selling a special-edition tee designed by Kiri Nathan and raffling Tiana’s playing ...
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