Former Waikato army soldier’s journey to the Invictus Games

Former NZ Army soldier Sonny Tavake will compete at the 2025 Invictus Games in Canada next month.

“I’ll be representing those guys who didn’t make it 34 years ago.”

Those are the words of Hamilton resident and former soldier Sonny Tavake, who was one of 13 soldiers who set out on an alpine training course on Mt Ruapehu in 1990, and got caught in a blizzard.

He was one of two who trekked 11 hours to raise the blizzard alarm and one out of seven who made a safe return.

It’s that bravery that also led him to win a New Zealand Bravery Medal (NZBM) in 1999 for his actions that day.

“It was meant to be adventure training and it turned into snow survival,” he said.

“It was just something that happened and that I did for my fellow man.”

Sonny Tavake was one of seven soldiers who made a safe return, after being caught in a blizzard on Mt Ruapehu in 1990.

Tavake went to Mt Ruapehu with the Invictus team to train in August last year for the games this year.

“I hadn’t been up to the snow since ... I had no reason to go up there knowing what happened to me up there all those years ago.

“It just brought back all those memories. It all came back to me. Even though I was only 22 years old, I can still remember the majority of it like it was yesterday.”

He sustained frostbite to his left hand from the incident and although it doesn’t affect him too much, it does limit his movement range.

“I can’t make a full fist and don’t have 100 per cent function of my hand, however I am still able to operate. I try not to focus on it even though I know it’s there.

“I’m just grateful to be still alive to be honest.”

He went on to be part of the 2023 Invictus team in Germany, for which he didn’t think he’d qualify.

“I was encouraged by two mates who had gone before to apply for the Games. I was keen as mustard and it was really good for me to see how far I could push myself mentally and physically.

“I was told the difference it made in another mate who had come back from the Games - I was really inspired to check it out and see.”

Next month, he will compete with the 19-strong New Zealand Team at the Invictus Games in Whistler, and Vancouver, Canada.

Tavake will compete in the adaptive winter sports of skeleton and biathlon, and the core Invictus sports of indoor rowing and wheelchair rugby.

“I am very humbled and appreciative to be part of the team again. Invictus has provided me with belief, confidence in myself, and the opportunity to be part of this community.

“I’ll be representing those guys that didn’t make it 34 years ago.

“I am planning on giving it my all, having fun and above all coming back a better version of myself than when I left.”