Trish Vaka

Patricia Amelia Vaka (born 17 May 1986) is a New Zealand Professional Rugby Union Player and professional boxer.[1][2]

Trish Vaka
Birth namePatricia Amelia Vaka
Date of birth (1986-05-17) May 17, 1986
Place of birthOkaihau, New Zealand
Height170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Weight86 kg (190 lb)
SchoolOkaihau College
Occupation(s)Professional Boxer
Rugby Union Player
Personal Trainer
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker/Lock
Current team Northland Kauri
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2014 - Present Kaikohe RFC ()
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2018 - Present Northland Kauri 25 (10)

In 2019, the Northland Women's Rugby team known as the Northland Kauri made their debut in the Women's Provincial Championship, now known as the Farah Palmer Cup. Vaka was named one of the original founding players for Northland in the Championships.[3] In 2023, the Northland Kauri won their first Farah Palmer Cup Championship.[4]

As a professional boxer, she has fought some of the world's best heavyweight boxers including Retired WBO Light Heavyweight champion Geovana Peres and IBF World Heavyweight Champion Lani Daniels.

Rugby Union

Kaikohe Rugby

In 2022, Vaka played four games for the Kaikohe Women's rugby team, with one bye and a game that was deemed a draw, however did not take place due to covid.[5][6] Vaka scored one try within the first minute against HH Women Rugby Team.[7] Kaikohe won one out of the four games of the season.[8]

Northland Kauri

In 2019, Northland reached the semi-finals, playing against Hawkes Bay. Vaka was named the number 4 for the game.[9][10] Hawkes Bay won the game with a score of 46–31.[11]

In 2020, Vaka was named in the Northland Kauri team, however the team did not reach the finals this year.[12]

On 20 August 2022, Vaka played for Northland against Taranaki at TET Stadium & Events Centre. 56 minutes and 35 seconds into the game, Vaka scored her first try of her Farah Palmer Cup Career.[13] Northland won the game by 29 - 15.[14] In September 2022, Northland Reached the semi-finals, playing against Hawkes Bay for the third time. Vaka was named the number 2 for the game.[15] Hawkes Bay won the game with a score of 28–19.[16]

On 19th August 2023, Vaka came off the bench to score her second try with the Northland Kauri team against Tasman.[17] In September 2023, The Northland Kauri won their first Championships.[18]

Boxing
Statistics
Weight(s)Light Heavyweight
Middleweight
Height170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
NationalityNew Zealand
Boxing record[19]
Total fights8
Wins1
Wins by KO1
Losses6
Draws0
No contests1

On 1 September 2017, Vaka made her professional boxing debut against Lani Daniels.[20] Daniels won the fight by unanimous decision.[21] In her third fight of her professional career, Vaka took on Geovana Peres for the vacant New Zealand National (PBCNZ version) Light Heavyweight title. Peres won the fight by unanimous decision.[22] In November 2017, Vaka took on Daniels in a rematch for the vacant New Zealand National (NZPBA version) Light Heavyweight title. Daniels won the fight by Unanimous Decision.[23] In August 2018, Vaka made her Australian debut when she took on undefeated Natalie Jenkinson. Vaka received her first victory of her professional boxing career, winning the fight by 2nd-round knockout. After the fight she receive a ranking of 8th in the world on Boxrec.[24] In December 2018, Vaka took on Peres in a rematch. This was a fight before Peres went on to win the World Light Heavyweight title. Peres won the fight by unanimous decision.[25] Despite her loss, she still maintained a ranking of 10th on Boxrec.[26] In November 2019, Vaka fought on the Geovana Peres vs. Claire Hafner world title undercard making her New Zealand television debut.[27] She took on undefeated Australian boxer Desley Robinson.[28] Robinson won the fight by Unanimous Decision.[29] Outside of competing, Vaka is a boxing professional trainer.[30]

Professional boxing record
8 fights 1 win 6 losses
By knockout 1 0
By decision 0 6
Draws 0
No contests 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
8 Loss 1–6 (1) Desley Robinson UD 4 4 Oct 2019 SkyCity, Auckland, New Zealand
7 Loss 1–5 (1) Geovana Peres UD 6 6 Dec 2018 Ellerslie Event Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
6 Loss 1–4 (1) Tessa Tualevao UD 6 30 Nov 2018 ABA Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
5 Win 1–3 (1) Natalie Jenkinson KO 2 (4), 0:49 11 Aug 2018 Seagulls Rugby League Club, Tweed Heads, NSW, Australia
4 Loss 0–3 (1) Lani Daniels UD 8 18 Nov 2017 Cambridge Raceway, Cambridge, New Zealand For vacant New Zealand National (NZPBA version) Light Heavyweight title
3 Loss 0–2 (1) Geovana Peres UD 8 13 Oct 2017 ABA Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand For vacant New Zealand National (PBCNZ version) Light Heavyweight title
2 NC 0–1 (1) Tessa Tualevao NC 4 9 Sep 2017 Kaitaia, New Zealand Originally declared Vaka as the winner, the decision was later change to a No Contest due to referee who was also acting as a judge failed to score two out of four rounds
1 Loss 0–1 Lani Daniels UD 4 1 Sep 2017 AMI Netball Centre St Johns, Auckland, New Zealand

Awards and recognitions
  • 2018 Northland Sports Award Female Boxer of the Year (Nominated)[31]
  • 2018 Northland Sports Award Fireco Sportswomen of the Year (Nominated)[32]
  • 2018 Far North Sports Awards ASB Boxing Code Award (Won)[33][34][35]

Personal life

Vaka is of Māori descent, and affiliates to Ngāpuhi.[36]

References
  1. "NORTHLAND RELISHING FARAH PALMER CUP OPPORTUNITY". All Blacks. 2019-08-23. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  2. "2022 Media Guide". Provincial Rugby. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  3. "NORTHLAND RELISHING FARAH PALMER CUP OPPORTUNITY". All Blacks. 2019-08-23. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  4. "NORTHLAND HEADED FOR PREMIERSHIP IN 2024". All Blacks. 2019-09-10. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  5. "Kaikohe vs Te Rarawa". Northland Rugby. 2022-05-22. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  6. "Kaikohe vs Te Rarawa first game". Northland Rugby. 2022-04-03. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  7. "Kaikohe vs HH Rugby". Northland Rugby. 2022-05-08. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  8. "Kaikohe vs Motukohu". Northland Rugby. 2022-04-08. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  9. "FARAH PALMER CUP: SEMIFINALS PREVIEW". Provincial Rugby NZ. 2019-10-18. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  10. "FNorthland Kauri to take on Hawke's Bay Tui announced". Northland Ruby. 2019-10-17. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  11. "Kauri take plenty away from season". Northern Age. 2019-10-22. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  12. "NORTHLAND KAURI: PREVIEW 2020". All Blacks. 2020-08-21. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  13. "Round 6 HIGHLIGHTS". All Blacks. 2022-08-21. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  14. "FARAH PALMER CUP: ROUND 6 REVIEW". All Blacks. 2022-08-21. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
  15. "FARAH PALMER CUP SEMI FINAL!". Northland Rugby. 2022-09-02. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  16. "Hawke's Bay Tui beat Northland Kauri 28-19 to make Farah Palmer Cup Championship final". Stuff NZ. 2022-09-03. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  17. "FARAH PALMER CUP ROUND 6: TEAM LISTS". Provincial Rugby. 2023-08-20. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  18. "FARAH PALMER CUP FINALS: TEAM LISTS". Provincial Rugby. 2023-09-11. Retrieved 2023-09-11.
  19. "Boxing record for". BoxRec.
  20. "The History of New Zealand Women's Heavyweight Boxing". Womens Boxing. 2023-01-08. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  21. "Baby Nansen wins her first Pro Boxing Title". Womens Boxing. 2017-09-02. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  22. "Brazilian boxer wins a second New Zealand title". Stuff NZ. 2017-10-17. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  23. "Lani Daniels Defends NZPBA Championship on July 14th Against Nailini Helu". Women Of Boxing. 2018-06-06. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  24. "Returning multi-code World Champion returns next week". Women Boxing. 2019-09-28. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  25. "Geovana Peres Moves Through Trish Vaka to Maintain her Positioning for a Heavyweight Championship Bid". Women of Boxing. 2018-12-06. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  26. "LESBIAN KIWI BOXER RANKED FIRST IN THE WORLD FOLLOWING WIN". Gay Express. 2018-12-20. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  27. "The lonely road of a boxing world champ". Newsroom. 2019-10-02. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  28. "Boxing: Canadian star arrives for WBO Light Heavyweight title shot against Geovana Peres". New Zealand Herald. 2019-10-01. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  29. "Geovana Peres retains WBO light-heavyweight world title by beating Claire Hafner". Stuff NZ. 2019-10-05. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  30. "Northland news in brief: WBHS logo approved, self-defence for women". Northern Advocate. 2019-11-29. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  31. "Northland sport stars honoured in Conbiro Northland Sports Awards". Northland Advocate. 2018-12-22. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  32. "Lani Daniels wins Local Award". Ring News 24. 2019-03-18. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  33. "2018 Winners Far North Sports Awards". Far North District Council. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  34. "FNDC Far North Sports Awards Finalists Named". Northland Sports. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  35. "Far North sport awards finalists named". Northern Age. 2018-11-15. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
  36. "Maori Female Boxers compete in different sports". Womens Boxing. 2023-02-13. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
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