Competitive rock climbing takes steely focus, but that assumes an entirely different shape for Tauranga boy Teddy Hirini.

While his competitors at the recent Zespri AIMS Games saw their next move, the partially sighted 13-year-old had to feel his way up the wall, while listening intently to his “pilot”, Charlee Bluck.

One unforeseen hurdle with this incredible set-up was the noise. More than two extraordinary days at the Rocktopia climbing venue in Mount Maunganui this month made it hard for Teddy to hear where his next handhold needed to go, above the clamour of a crowd chanting his name.

“If it’s very loud, I can’t hear her, and I need her to repeat it,” he explained. “But I’m also locked in when I’m rock climbing, and hearing people yell also gets me more pumped to climb the wall. It’s inspiring.”

Not as inspiring as this Tauranga Intermediate climber. Equipped with an earpiece and undiluted pluck, Teddy finished 25th out of 42 Year 8 boys.

The Zespri AIMS Games is New Zealand’s biggest school sporting tournament, hosted annually in Tauranga. It ran from September 5-11.

CLIMB. AIMS Games, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, Tuesday 8 September 2026. Photo:Simon Watts/www.bwmedia.co.nz @bwmedianz Rock climbing at 2026’s Zespri AIMS Games. Photo / Jamie Troughton / Dscribe Media Services

This year saw a record 14,506 entries from 467 schools, including 11 international schools from Australia, the Cook Islands and Fiji. The intermediate-aged athletes competed across 27 sporting codes.

Teddy has been climbing for just over a year but made it through qualifiers and into the quarter-finals during two intense days of competition. He celebrated with a float from McDonald’s.

“The first day was pretty nerve-racking. But then when I got on the wall, I wasn’t as nervous. It felt good, but now I’m pretty tired. My arms get pretty pumped.”

Parents Paul and Claire Hirini watched on with unabashed pride. Teddy is one of six siblings, including twin Mason, and they’ve all been active kids.

“It’s been hard to find a sport for Teddy,” Paul said. “When he was very little, he was pretty freaky with his hand-eye co-ordination, and he was incredible with both hands and both feet. It was pretty devastating when he got ill and lost his sight. But climbing has been incredible, and it has enriched his life. And for him to come to AIMS Games has been a highlight.”

Photo by Jamie Troughton/Dscribe Media. Teddy Hirini with ‘pilot’ Charlee Bluck and teacher Seamus Murray. Photo / Jamie Troughton / Dscribe Media Services

When he was 4, Teddy reacted badly to antibiotics for an ear infection. The auto-immune condition Stevens-Johnson syndrome is rare, but it cost him about 95% of his sight.

When he climbs the wall, he can occasionally make out big features, but most of it is by feel only.

The support he’s had is vast, with Tauranga Intermediate teacher Seamus Murray a fierce advocate. Now Teddy has serious ambitions.

The 2032 Paralympics in Brisbane beckon. His parents reckon the AIMS competition was a massive breakthrough, as does his caller Charlee, who saw first-hand how Teddy shone.

“It was a learning experience for everyone, especially when I mixed up my left and rights at one stage yesterday, and had to write it on my hands,” she laughed. “But I just watched him grow through the event. It’s been amazing.”