Lorraine Pukepuke coaches a small Rotorua basketball team which has eight players heading to the Special Olympics in Wellington this weekend.
She's a mum, nanny and aunty to a few players, too.
Her son Ruaumoko Pukepuke (who stands roughly 6'2"), grandson Taua Rewi and niece Hinewai Ngaru Vercoe live with Lorraine at her Owhata home.
The team is made up of young people with intellectual disabilities.
Team member Levi is deaf, but his minder stands on the sideline giving sign language instructions about what to do on the court.
"We keep the drills the same every time, and our lady Denise is over there and he knows to look at her, too. But if we keep it the same every week he gets used to it. He's come a long way.
"The reward is in their faces, that they can actually do the things like passing… They are able to listen and when you see them they know they've done really good. I know it sounds boring but they've done the work for an hour."
Hinewai Vercoe, Taua Rewi, Raumoko Pukepuke with coach and nan/aunty/mum Lorraine Pukepuke. Photo: RNZ/Justine Murray
The bubbly Owhata Primary School teacher coaches every Monday alongside her daughter Keiha who manages the team.
For their Special Olympics trip, the team have collectively fundraised $85,000.
"We were hoping to go on a train, then we wanted to go on a plane, but now we are going on a bus. Picture us on bus… it's going to take many many hours" she laughs.
Around 60 people from Rotorua will compete in a variety of sports at the Special Olympics.
More than half of the team are Māori and include competitors in soccer, indoor bowls, swimming and ten-pin bowling, Lorraine says.
A few kilometres from Lorraine's home is Owhata Marae where her sister, Honor Te Koi runs literacy and numeracy programmes for children with special needs.
Honor says Hinewai, Ruaumoko and Taua help out with the programmes and are her assistants at the marae.
Honor Te Koi says off the Basketball Court and out of school the Kids love to help out at Owhata Marae. Photo: RNZ/Justine Murray
"They are a huge help at our marae, not only for but for all their aunties and kuia. They have learned much around the marae in preparing for visitors, wharenui set-up for pōwhiri, wharekai and working in the kitchen."
3,000 athletes and coaches set to attend the Special Olympics National Summer Games, which begins on 27 November.
Athletes will compete in 11 sports across 10 venues in the Wellington region with the support of 600 volunteers.
