Mates4Life

Final call! Pre-orders close today at 5:00pm!

Today is your last opportunity to own the 2026 Hawke's Bay Magpies Charity Jersey.

This jersey represents more than rugby.

It represents Tauawhi – to embrace and provide comfort. It represents community, connection, and the belief that one conversation can make all the difference.

Every jersey purchased helps Mates4Life continue empowering people across Hawke's Bay with the skills and confidence to help prevent su***de.
If you've been meaning to order one for yourself, your whānau, your workplace or your rugby supporter in the family, today is your final chance.

⏰ Pre-orders close today at 5:00pm.

👉 Order yours here:
https://www.sporty.co.nz/magpies/charity-jersey-pre-purchase

Thank you to everyone who has supported this campaign so far by purchasing a jersey, sharing our posts, and helping spread the message.

Together, we're creating conversations that matter.

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Tauawhi.

A te reo Māori word meaning to embrace, provide comfort, show manaakitanga, and lead with aroha.

More than a name, Tauawhi is the story behind this year's Hawke's Bay Magpies Charity Jersey.

Designed by local artist Tim Whaitiri-Henderson (Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Kahungunu), the artwork represents Mates4Life's vision of creating a community where people have the skills and confidence to support one another.

The design weaves together haehae and pakati, two traditional Māori patterns that form rauponga. Together they tell a story of life's challenges, the strength we gain through adversity, and the protection we find through our connection to whānau, friends, teammates, workmates, and community.

At its centre is a single circle representing the individual - a reminder that every life matters. Around it sits a circle of support, reflecting the people who stand beside us through life's highs and lows.

We're incredibly proud to see Tauawhi worn on this year's Charity Jersey, carrying a message that reaches far beyond the rugby field.

💚 A jersey with purpose.
💚 A design with meaning.
💚 A community that looks after one another.

💚 The 2026 Hawke's Bay Magpies Charity Jersey is now available for pre-purchase!

Inspired by Mates4Life and the kaupapa of connection, this year's charity jersey represents more than rugby. It tells a story of community, support, and the power of conversation.

Because sometimes, one conversation is all it takes to help someone feel seen, supported, and remind them they don't have to face life's challenges alone.

We're incredibly honoured to be this year's charity partner and grateful to the Hawkes Bay Magpies and TotalEnergies for helping bring this initiative to life.

If you'd like to own this special limited-edition jersey while supporting Mates4Life and the work we do across our community, pre-orders are now open for a limited time only.

👉 Pre-order yours here: https://www.sporty.co.nz/magpies/charity-jersey-pre-purchase

Keep an eye out over the coming weeks as we share the stories behind the jersey, its design, and the Mates4Life campaign leading into the Charity Match on 5 September. Together, we'll explore how one conversation can make all the difference.

Thank you to everyone who continues to support our kaupapa. Together, we're creating conversations that matter and helping build a stronger, more connected Hawke's Bay. 💚🏉

💚 Two people. Two challenges. One shared purpose. 💚⁠
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The calendar may have ticked over to June, but we couldn't let the month pass without acknowledging and thanking Damon Harvey and Maggie Higgins for the incredible effort they put into supporting mental health awareness across Hawke's Bay.

For another year, Damon took on Slay May, raising an incredible $11,000 for Mates4Life and Spark That Chat. Across 31 days, he completed 37 workouts, visited more than 75 businesses, engaged with over 300 people, and travelled from Waipukurau to Napier, all with one goal in mind: creating conversations about mental health and shining a light on the support available in our community.⁠
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At the same time, Maggie once again laced up her shoes for her 100k For Tradies Mental Health challenge, encouraging others to get involved, move their bodies, and prioritise their wellbeing while raising awareness for mental health across the trades and wider community.⁠
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While the challenges looked different, the message was the same.⁠
Mental health matters. Connection matters. Looking out for your mates matters.⁠
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Both Damon and Maggie have generously given their time, energy, and voice to help create conversations that can genuinely make a difference. Through their efforts, more people have learned about the support available through Mates4Life and Spark That Chat, and more people have been encouraged to check in on themselves and those around them.⁠
From all of us at Mates4Life, thank you Damon and Maggie for standing behind this kaupapa and helping us build a community where people feel more confident to reach out, connect, and support one another.⁠
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Ngā mihi nui. 💚⁠
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