Run It Straight hosts Sylvia Park event after South Auckland cancellations
The group announced on Instagram this week that the Auckland Council had prevented its South Auckland events, saying representatives were 'called in and told we're not allowed to run any on the local field'.
However, council officials deny this, saying no permit requests were ever made.
The Run It events are a social media-driven trend where participants compete in full-contact collisions without protective gear, raising serious health concerns over concussion and injury risks.
Māngere-Ōtāhuhu Local Board chairman Tauanu'u Nick Bakulich opposed two south Auckland events because of the risks of brain and health-related injuries.
But on Thursday night, hundreds lined up outside Foot Locker at Sylvia Park, with the crowd spilling into the car park. The group pivoted to an in-store meet-and-greet, inviting supporters on their social media platforms to come down and join them.
The group said it was giving away $3000 worth of gift cards, T-shirts from sponsor Bad Apples, and $1000 cash.
Charizma said the idea of Run It Straight came to him while he was in the hospital, facing mental health struggles.
'I woke up and my brother was there. Being there and seeing my son, he was crying at the end of the bed. That was the breaking point … This could have all been gone in an instant just because I made the wrong decision,' he says.
'The only reason I'm doing here and I feel good enough about myself is because I'm just being able to chase my dreams.'
Now, he says, he's using his platform to create visibility for those often underestimated.
'Brown skin, melanin, there's not many opportunities for us. We're all looked at as just people who can play sport and that's it, no brains.'
He says he wants to break down barriers.
'Everyone's saying this is dumb ... but when we have UFC fighters that are from here and we cheer them on, everyone wants to praise them.
'All of a sudden, we run a sport that has a little bit of risk, we get shut down. So every beginning - and everything that has a great ending - has a rough beginning.'
Responding to safety concerns about the collision events, Charizma said the group ensured it was as safe as possible, with medics and an ambulance on site.
'People are saying our sport is about going until someone gets knocked out. That's rubbish. That's b*******. It's not about that.
'It's about whoever has the biggest hit moving on to the next round. We've had about three knockouts in eight shows. People can say what they want, but, if you're not there, then you don't know.'
Charizma said his group was not affiliated with the RUNIT Championships League.
Taryn Crewe, Auckland Council general manager parks and community facilities, says the council has not declined or cancelled any Run It Straight events in Auckland.
Run It Straight organisers had not applied for any event permits or made any requests to book council-owned or managed sites.
Even if an application had been received, it would be unlikely to meet council guidelines because of health and safety concerns and the current high demand for sportsfields, Crewe said.
Miga Tuigamala, store manager at Foot Locker Sylvia Park, says the event was about uplifting the community, supporting Pacific youth, and backing the boys behind Run It Straight.
'The purpose was to represent us as Islanders out south ... just doing what's right for the Run It Straightguys,' she says.
While acknowledging the risks involved, she likens it to what's seen on the rugby field.
'Most of the best rugby players come from the islands. What we see them do is what we normally see on the footy field.'
Of the group, she says: 'They're lovely guys. They look big and scary, but they're not. Most Islanders, we're all big and scary, but we've all got a big heart.'
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RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
Run It Straight turns brute force into entertainment, with fatal consequences
By Melissa Maykin , ABC News Two men collide during a 'Run it' sporting event in Auckland. Photo: Supplied / RUNIT CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE via Instagram For Onehunga Mata'uiau, rugby has always been about skill, discipline, and controlled contact. That's why the former Manu Samoa player and seasoned coach sees the Run It Straight craze sweeping Pacific communities as a dangerous distortion of the game he loves. Backed by former and current rugby stars Manu Vatuvei, Chanel Harris-Tavita, George Burgess, Nemani Nadolo and UFC's Carlos Ulberg, and attracting hundreds of thousands of followers online, Run It Straight sees players charging at each other like rugby front rowers, to "dominate" their opponent. But as the online hype has grown, so too have the risks. The social media-driven craze made international headlines late last month when 19-year-old Ryan Satterthwaite died in New Zealand after suffering head injuries in an impromptu contest. Speaking just before that incident, veteran coach Mata'uiau had told ABC's Pacific Pulse he feared a tragedy was inevitable in a format where collision, not evasion, is the goal. "As coaches and game developers, we make sure there is technique and players are not reckless … we teach our kids how to tackle properly instead of taking the head off," he said. "[Run It Straight] revolves the game around rugby, but the principle of our game is not that. "We never trained to knock each other out like that, where you have to smash someone at a hundred miles per hour. In May, Run It safety spokesperson Billy Coffey revealed the sport has a concussion rate of around 20 per cent, noting that two concussions at a recent event were caused by players using "illegal" head-first techniques. As pulverising hits flood social media, the spectacle is also drawing criticism for glorifying "harmful forms of masculinity". Ryan Satterthwaite] died after suffering head injuries in an impromptu contest. Photo: Instagram Some Pacific Islanders who grew up in the 1990s trace Run It Straight back to their childhoods in the Australian and New Zealand diaspora. "We'd make our own fun after to'ona'i (Sunday lunch) by playing games like bull rush or Run It Straight," associate professor Lefaoali'i Dr Dion Enari said. Once a backyard pastime, it has transformed into a high-impact combat event drawing a legion of online fans, families, community vendors, and influencers. From the polished, star-studded RUNIT Championship League to the grassroots Run It Straight 24, participants face off one-on-one in a tight 20-by-4-metre arena, taking turns charging or tackling at full speed. Matches end in knockouts or are decided by dominance, with prize money reaching $NZ200,000 ($185,700) for the last man standing. Despite warnings from injury experts, the unregulated contest is booming online. But sporting codes are pushing back. New Zealand Rugby has warned of "significant risk of serious injury," with All Black and Moana Pasifika captain Ardie Savea saying sportspeople "should not be seen supporting something like this." New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said people needed to take more responsibility for their actions, while in Australia, Manly Sea Eagles fans have been told they face bans if caught taking part in the craze at games, after footage surfaced showing men hurtling downhill into awaiting tacklers. Dr Andrew Affleck, senior hospital scientist and brain bank manager at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, calls the craze a "hit-fest" designed to cause maximum damage. He said repeated clashes, both mild and severe, increase the risk of developing neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia, motor neurone disease, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Queensland league great Wally Lewis lives with probable CTE, while the late NRL coach Paul Green, who died by suicide in 2022, was posthumously diagnosed with CTE, a condition that cannot be fully diagnosed in living patients. "They probably do not fully appreciate that each knock might be another step toward potential impairment," Dr Affleck said. "We know that people who develop CTE have often experienced not just concussions but repeated blows, including non-concussive events. Police described the incident that fatally injured Ryan Satterthwaite as "innocuous," underscoring Dr Affleck's warning about the lethal risk of smaller impacts. Ryan did not strike anything solid. According to police, it was the sheer force of the movement that led to his death. Dr Affleck wants to see a shift in attitudes towards the trend. "We only have one brain. It controls everything we do automatically, like breathing, movement, reflexes. Unlike other organs, we don't have a backup." As thousands rallied around grassroots contests, mental health worker and advocate Shenei Penaia became concerned when a family member signed up to compete in Melbourne trials. "My greatest worry is it reinforces a harmful form of masculinity. Young people are not just watching, they are learning that their bodies are disposable, pain is performative and safety comes second to going viral," she said. Mental health worker Shenei Penaia fears young boys are absorbing harmful ideas about masculinity. Photo: Shenei Penaia "We should be building environments that protect and uplift our young people, our young men, where strength are things like self-awareness, vulnerability, and the freedom to say no to being put at risk. On Wednesday, Run It Straight 24 CEO Christian 'Charizma' Lesa said the group will now enforce the use of mouthguards, headgear, and stricter tackling rules, with disqualification for any contact outside the chest-to-waist zone. "We're still learning, but we want to make this as safe as possible so no head highs, no grass cuts, and if you're dazed, that's it, you're done," Lesa told Triple J Hack. Lesa said paramedics and ambulances are on stand-by at events and he follows up with injured contestants. Responding to criticism after Ryan Satterthwaite's death, Lesa said Ryan's family were in his prayers "but I can't be the one to blame if people are doing it outside [our competitions]." The ABC put separate questions to the RUNIT Championship League and Run It Straight 24 regarding safety measures, insurance, and competition rules but did not receive a response. - ABC
Scoop
6 days ago
- Scoop
Run It And Brain Injuries: What You Need To Know
Article – RNZ Explainer – A 19-year-old died playing a version of the controversial violent 'Run It' contest. Just how dangerous is it? , Digital Explainer Editor Explainer – A 19-year-old from Palmerston North died recently playing a version of the controversial violent 'Run It' contest. How can a knock on the head kill? Here's what you need to know about brain injuries. What is Run It? An Australian creation that has taken off in Aotearoa thanks to social media, 'Run It Straight' is a combat sport. Across a field, a ball runner and defender charge at full speed toward one another without helmets or safety gear. The participant who 'dominates' the contact is deemed the winner. Events held in New Zealand recently offer cash prizes, including a $200,000 prize advertised for the winner of the final. Many sporting groups and health experts have condemned the contests, including NZ Rugby and NZ Rugby League. What happened to Ryan Satterthwaite? The 19-year-old Palmerston North man died Monday night in hospital, after suffering a catastrophic head injury on Sunday, 25 May playing an unofficial Run It-style game with friends. Police said it was an unspectacular tackle that led to the tragedy. Manawatū area commander inspector Ross Grantham told RNZ's Checkpoint that Ryan's head didn't hit anything hard during the tackle. 'It was just an impromptu event with some mates that got together and the two men run towards each other, and from that collision, this young man Ryan has received such a terrible injury that it's been fatal,' Grantham said. 'It doesn't look like his head has hit anything hard, hasn't hit the ground, or his mate's body or head. It's the movement that has caused this injury.' Satterthwaite's family have urged people not to take part in the game, with his uncle calling it 'the most stupid thing I've ever seen'. The death comes after two other men were knocked unconscious and required medical attention during a competition at Auckland's Trust Arena. What happens to the brain with this kind of impact? People don't understand how fragile the brain really is, said Dr Helen Murray, a neuroscientist and senior research fellow at the University of Auckland's Centre for Brain Research. 'The main thing to think about is our brain is essentially floating in cerebrospinal fluid inside our skull, so every time you bump the front of your skull, the brain is moving around in your head. 'It's sort of like an egg in an eggshell – if you shake it, you damage what's inside. It's a very delicate structure.' Knocks to the head can cause bleeding or harm the careful infrastructure inside our skulls. 'All of those delicate folds of the brain are stretching and twisting, and that can cause damage,' she said. 'Blood is not supposed to be in direct contact with brain tissue.' Bleeding on the brain can cause problems such as a stroke. The exact details of Satterthwaite's injuries have not been revealed, but sudden death from a brain injury can also occur because it regulates most of our body functions. If the brain stem – which connects your brain to the spinal cord – is affected, it can result in critical injuries. 'Your brain stem is really responsible for a lot of what we call homeostatic functions, the things that keep your body alive,' Dr Murray said. 'You don't think about your heart beating, you don't think about your breathing or your blood pressure, but your brain is always making that happen all the time.' Several people are believed to have suffered concussions – a brain injury caused by a blow to the head – during Run It activities. Chief executive of the Headway brain injury support charity Stacey Mowbray recently told RNZ she found Run It Straight video footage 'horrendous and really distressing'. 'We refer to concussions as the invisible injury, so you don't have to see anything initially to have had one.' Can you be hurt and not realise it right away? Even if the injury isn't immediately fatal, brain injuries can also develop over years. 'Your brain is so precious and a brain injury affects, not only your life, but your friends, your family and the people around you, and it can last a long, long time,' Dr Murray said. Haven't there been concerns about brain injuries in contact sport for a while? Absolutely, and the particularly stark nature of Run It events has drawn attention to long-standing research about sports players developing life-changing injuries. Brain injuries in sport cost New Zealand millions every year. Some former athletes have been diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy or CTE, a progressive brain disease that can cause dementia-like symptoms. Former All Black Carl Hayman has spoken out about living with the disease, which he was diagnosed with in his early 40s. Dr Murray is one of New Zealand's leading experts on CTE and an ice hockey player herself. She said contact sports can be played safely, but events like Run It lacked safeguards. 'There are some unique factors in this Run It event that just make it a really, really heavy risk – the fact that no-one is trying to avoid a collision, for starters. 'You instantly have this high-force component, the lack of regulation, people just kind of doing this without safe tackling technique. Someone's judging the collision, so there's an incentive for high damage. 'So many sports have been doing a fantastic job about learning to play more safely… but this is a big step backwards.' What is the future of Run It? West Auckland's Trusts Arena cancelled plans to host the final event for the Runit Championship League after holding trials there. 'Safety of all participants at our venue is paramount and this activity presented safety considerations that we could not overlook,' Trusts Arena's general manager of community engagement Lynette Adams told the New Zealand Herald. Should it be illegal? After Satterthwaite's death, police said it was not considered a criminal matter, but they would continue to make inquiries on behalf of the Coroner. 'We need people to stop participating in activities where the intention is to hurt someone,' AUT professor of human performance Patria Hume told the Science Media Centre. 'Why is this not considered assault?' Sports and Recreation Minister Mark Mitchell is seeking advice on what could be done about the game. He told RNZ's Nine To Noon last week he had asked Sport NZ for advice to see if there was anything that could be done at a government level. Mitchell said it would likely require a response from several agencies.
Scoop
6 days ago
- Scoop
Run It And Brain Injuries: What You Need To Know
, Digital Explainer Editor Explainer – A 19-year-old from Palmerston North died recently playing a version of the controversial violent 'Run It' contest. How can a knock on the head kill? Here's what you need to know about brain injuries. What is Run It? An Australian creation that has taken off in Aotearoa thanks to social media, 'Run It Straight' is a combat sport. Across a field, a ball runner and defender charge at full speed toward one another without helmets or safety gear. The participant who 'dominates' the contact is deemed the winner. Events held in New Zealand recently offer cash prizes, including a $200,000 prize advertised for the winner of the final. Many sporting groups and health experts have condemned the contests, including NZ Rugby and NZ Rugby League. What happened to Ryan Satterthwaite? The 19-year-old Palmerston North man died Monday night in hospital, after suffering a catastrophic head injury on Sunday, 25 May playing an unofficial Run It-style game with friends. Police said it was an unspectacular tackle that led to the tragedy. Manawatū area commander inspector Ross Grantham told RNZ's Checkpoint that Ryan's head didn't hit anything hard during the tackle. 'It was just an impromptu event with some mates that got together and the two men run towards each other, and from that collision, this young man Ryan has received such a terrible injury that it's been fatal,' Grantham said. 'It doesn't look like his head has hit anything hard, hasn't hit the ground, or his mate's body or head. It's the movement that has caused this injury.' Satterthwaite's family have urged people not to take part in the game, with his uncle calling it 'the most stupid thing I've ever seen'. The death comes after two other men were knocked unconscious and required medical attention during a competition at Auckland's Trust Arena. What happens to the brain with this kind of impact? People don't understand how fragile the brain really is, said Dr Helen Murray, a neuroscientist and senior research fellow at the University of Auckland's Centre for Brain Research. 'The main thing to think about is our brain is essentially floating in cerebrospinal fluid inside our skull, so every time you bump the front of your skull, the brain is moving around in your head. 'It's sort of like an egg in an eggshell – if you shake it, you damage what's inside. It's a very delicate structure.' Knocks to the head can cause bleeding or harm the careful infrastructure inside our skulls. 'All of those delicate folds of the brain are stretching and twisting, and that can cause damage,' she said. 'Blood is not supposed to be in direct contact with brain tissue.' Bleeding on the brain can cause problems such as a stroke. The exact details of Satterthwaite's injuries have not been revealed, but sudden death from a brain injury can also occur because it regulates most of our body functions. If the brain stem – which connects your brain to the spinal cord – is affected, it can result in critical injuries. 'Your brain stem is really responsible for a lot of what we call homeostatic functions, the things that keep your body alive,' Dr Murray said. 'You don't think about your heart beating, you don't think about your breathing or your blood pressure, but your brain is always making that happen all the time.' Several people are believed to have suffered concussions – a brain injury caused by a blow to the head – during Run It activities. Chief executive of the Headway brain injury support charity Stacey Mowbray recently told RNZ she found Run It Straight video footage 'horrendous and really distressing'. 'We refer to concussions as the invisible injury, so you don't have to see anything initially to have had one.' Can you be hurt and not realise it right away? Even if the injury isn't immediately fatal, brain injuries can also develop over years. 'Your brain is so precious and a brain injury affects, not only your life, but your friends, your family and the people around you, and it can last a long, long time,' Dr Murray said. Haven't there been concerns about brain injuries in contact sport for a while? Absolutely, and the particularly stark nature of Run It events has drawn attention to long-standing research about sports players developing life-changing injuries. Brain injuries in sport cost New Zealand millions every year. Some former athletes have been diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy or CTE, a progressive brain disease that can cause dementia-like symptoms. Former All Black Carl Hayman has spoken out about living with the disease, which he was diagnosed with in his early 40s. Dr Murray is one of New Zealand's leading experts on CTE and an ice hockey player herself. She said contact sports can be played safely, but events like Run It lacked safeguards. 'There are some unique factors in this Run It event that just make it a really, really heavy risk – the fact that no-one is trying to avoid a collision, for starters. 'You instantly have this high-force component, the lack of regulation, people just kind of doing this without safe tackling technique. Someone's judging the collision, so there's an incentive for high damage. 'So many sports have been doing a fantastic job about learning to play more safely… but this is a big step backwards.' What is the future of Run It? West Auckland's Trusts Arena cancelled plans to host the final event for the Runit Championship League after holding trials there. 'Safety of all participants at our venue is paramount and this activity presented safety considerations that we could not overlook,' Trusts Arena's general manager of community engagement Lynette Adams told the New Zealand Herald. Should it be illegal? After Satterthwaite's death, police said it was not considered a criminal matter, but they would continue to make inquiries on behalf of the Coroner. 'We need people to stop participating in activities where the intention is to hurt someone,' AUT professor of human performance Patria Hume told the Science Media Centre. 'Why is this not considered assault?' Sports and Recreation Minister Mark Mitchell is seeking advice on what could be done about the game. He told RNZ's Nine To Noon last week he had asked Sport NZ for advice to see if there was anything that could be done at a government level. Mitchell said it would likely require a response from several agencies.
