The country's second biggest and most prestigious Taekwondo tournament is being held in Tauranga for the first time this Queen's Birthday Weekend.
The New Zealand NZTF Open, which takes place at the Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre on Saturday and Sunday, has attracted the best Taekwondo competitors in the country, along with an elite line-up from Australia, Samoa and Tonga.


Tauranga's Malcolm Mitchell from team KO is performing in the individual poomsae on Saturday morning.

The New Zealand Taekwondo Open, established five years ago to bring all the best players from the different federations together, is part of the selection process for the country's elite competitors.
At the event they are seeking selection in the New Zealand team to attend the Oceania Championships in New Caledonia later in the year.
The competition, which has attracted 400 competitors, sees a number of extremely strong club units competing for New Zealand Open titles. Leading the Kiwi charge for victory, will be Team KO from the Tauranga/Mount club, and Taekwondo Pride from Auckland.
A strong Australian challenge is expected, with clubs from Perth and Brisbane bringing their best to Tauranga. Also in attendance will be National club teams from Samoa and Tonga.
One of the most anticipated match-ups is in the senior men's Heavyweight division, where local player Warren Steiner, will meet the Samoan Heavyweight champion. Another to attract plenty of attention is Beijing Olympian Logan Campbell.
One Tauranga/Mount Club player who has competed at the highest level is Verina Wihongi. This Western Bay welterweight has competed at the Athens Olympics and recently defeated Robin Chung, a New Zealand representative at the Beijing Olympics.
Rhiannon O'Neill from the host club will be looking to add another title to her success at last year's New Zealand Open. A number of the host club's younger competitors will be seeking to add a New Zealand Open Crown to their national titles.
Shael Wood, Amy Stevenson, Danielle Kawhiti and Omar Mohammad are amongst a group of Western Bay age group players, who are looking to make their mark under the guidance of Tauranga/Mount coach Master Kesi O'Neill.


Braden Dehar, 6 from Hastings is competing at the New Zealand Taekwondo Open.


Under 10 young juniors wait to perform their poomsae.