Josiah Maama: From G.I to the World

The name Josiah Maama is quickly becoming synonymous with basketball success in New Zealand, and his visibility is gaining recognition on the junior basketball world stage too. Closer to home and heart though, Josiah co-founded GI Rise Basketball alongside his brother Sione who shares the same passion for the sport and strong principals of giving back.

Born and raised in Tāmaki, the Maama brothers are proud Glen Innes (GI) locals who grew up utilising all the local sports fields, playgrounds, and basketball courts in the area, so they know first-hand the benefits of providing room for local youth to thrive. Through GI Rise, they offer free coaching and mentoring to aspiring basketballers to help develop their skills, and what started as humble pre-season trainings back in 2017 has quickly grown into a well-established grassroots programme for youth in East Auckland.

In a world where young people are increasingly craving connection, leadership, and a sense of purpose, GI Rise strives to offer all three. Over the years, the programme has blossomed into a safe place for local talent to rub shoulders with some of the best, including professional players from the likes of the Auckland Tuatara and the NZ Breakers. The name says it all: GI Rise allows the young people of Tāmaki to see what’s possible when you set your sights high, and Josiah has felt fulfilled watching it all come to life with his brother by his side. “There’s so much talent here, and I want to make sure these opportunities are available for all our young people, so they can see and understand their own potential. To take these skills grown right here on our local courts and showcase them further,” he says.

Josiah is passionate about sharing the message that success isn’t just about your performance in a game; it’s also about who you become in the process. For both brothers, the chance to create a culture where it’s okay to work hard, to be vulnerable, and to support one another is more important than any on-court achievements. “You can learn so much about life through sport, from discipline to teamwork and mental resilience, these skills can be used in everyday life. “The bonds we create with the kids show what building meaningful connection looks like, that team players can become family. We also want to remove the stigma around sharing feelings too, because for some of them, a gym session or basketball court is the only place they feel comfortable enough to have those kinds of conversations.”

Adding to Josiah’s growing list of achievements is his recent appointment as the Head Coach of the Junior Tall Blacks, redefining what it means to represent your community at the highest level. Earlier this year he took the team to the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup in Lausanne, Switzerland, and under his leadership, the team achieved a historic fourth-place finish, narrowly losing their playoff match against Slovenia. This is the best result New Zealand has ever achieved at this level, having previously come 13th in 2019, 11th in 2017 and 13th in 2009.

For Josiah however, success has never been about personal accolades. Grounded deeply in his Tongan heritage and East Auckland roots, he sees every achievement as a win for his fāmili and a chance to give back to the wider community. “There were four of us, and Mum raised us on her own. She held multiple jobs whilst making sure we were fed, sheltered and loved every day. She’s always been a hard worker and put others first, so naturally, that was our example of how we all navigated life and treated the world. The Tongan traditions and culture were embedded in us by mum, and our grandparents helped shape who I am today. Nena especially taught us that everything is done together. If someone succeeds, we are all contributors to that, and if someone is struggling, we are all responsible to help uplift them.”

In his spare time, he finds time to visit other schools and groups in the area. This includes sharing motivational kōrero with GI Eagles Basketball Club, and Coach and Co-ordinator, Manuel Waaka, is grateful for Josiah’s continued contribution. Manuel says, “For us, it means a lot when Josiah comes back to GI, it inspires our tamariki that if ‘he can do it, they can make it too! ’with whatever dreams they put their mind and heart to.”

When asked about what is next, Josiah is open to continue sharing his expertise on the world stage. No matter where his path leads him, he is adamant that there is never anywhere quite like home. “Everything we do through GI Rise is about carrying that forward and giving back to the neighbourhood that got us here. We want to keep East Auckland on the radar, to keep making a statement,” he says with a smile, “Because it’s a flex to be from Glen Innes.”

You can read the full edition of the Mai Tāmaki Magazine for Spring 2025 online here.