Finding Purpose Through Movement - w Lawrence Tau

You can watch on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/YWf54qL-rao

In this episode of Beyond the Hustle, I sit down with Lawrence Tau - a pāpā, personal trainer turned kaupapa-driven mover, and cultural advocate using traditional Māori games to change the way we think about sport, mental health, and identity.

Lawrence opens up about growing up as a surprise baby, followed by his early years surrounded by hardship - experiences that shaped his understanding of responsibility, resilience, and the man he wanted to become. After losing his pāpā at 14, he found himself stepping into the role of manhood and fatherhood far earlier than expected.

This kōrero traces his journey from those formative years through becoming a young pāpā, learning the hard reality of walking alongside whānau in pain, and carving out his own purpose through movement. He shares how he began training whānau and friends at home, how relationships matter more than reps, and how grounding physical activity in te reo and tikanga became his way of healing and giving back.

We explore the power of walking and bush kōrero with rangatahi, wrestling with his boys as a form of aroha, the mindful practice that helped him break cycles of negative self-talk, and how surfing and immersion in the taiao helped him find peace and purpose.

This is a kōrero about culture and identity, values and autonomy, taonga takaro and how sport can connect, heal, and empower communities. 

Connect with Lawrence:
Instagram: @te_rahi_a_maaui

Learn more about our kaupapa here: www.hustlegroup.co.nz