Paul Whatuira is a former professional rugby league player, two-time NRL Premiership winner and 16-Test New Zealand international who has transformed some of the toughest experiences of his life into a kaupapa focused on strengthening others.
Behind the success of professional sport, Paul experienced severe mental health challenges that ultimately contributed to the end of his playing career. At the time, doctors recommended that Paul remain on medication for the rest of his life. Today, he has been medication-free for more than 10 years and speaks openly about his journey of recovery, growth, identity and finding strength from within through an Indigenous lens.
Those experiences became the foundation for Internal Strength, the kaupapa Māori, trauma-informed organisation Paul founded in 2019. Through Internal Strength, Paul and his team work alongside rangatahi, whānau and communities, combining lived experience, practical wellbeing tools, cultural connection and personal development. Through his programmes and speaking, Paul’s kaupapa has reached more than 20,000 people.
Paul has recently completed a Master of Māori and Indigenous Leadership at the University of Canterbury, bringing together lived experience, mātauranga Māori, leadership and his background in high-performance sport.
From the heights of professional rugby league to some of the darkest periods of his life, Paul’s journey is ultimately about He Mana ā-Roto — strength from within. His kōrero is grounded in hope, whakapapa and the belief that recovery is possible, while recognising that every person’s journey is different.
Today, Paul uses his experiences to create spaces for honest conversations about mental wellbeing, identity and suicide prevention — particularly for Māori, rangatahi and whānau.
