Ko Ngatokimatawhaorua te waka
Ko Nukutawhiti te kaihautu
Ko Hokianga te moana
Ko Te Ramaroa te maunga
Ko Whiria te pā
Ko Pōkanui te awa tapu
Ko Pakanae te whenua
Ko Ngatikorokoro te hapū
Ko Maraeroa te marae
No te whānau Toi i te taha o tōku māmā
Ko Ngā Puhi te iwi
Ko Aria Clapperton ahau
Never having been someone who backs down from a challenge, Aria is inspiring wāhine to move their bodies by documenting her running and fitness journey on TikTok.
Aria comes from a sporty whānau, with all siblings having participated in many team sports and individual pursuits from childhood all the way through. In recent years, Aria has completed the Oxfam 100km Trailwalk in a whānau team in 2016 as well as the New York Marathon in 2019, and most recently the Hawkes Bay Marathon in May this year after a spontaneous decision to enter three weeks before the event.
This ‘accidental’ internet content creator has been a runner for many years. It was through a tough time for her and her whānau in 2011 that Aria began to run. Exercise became a really important part of caring for herself, both physically and mentally. Aria holds herself accountable to putting in the mahi toward her fitness goals on TikTok, where she now creates regular videos explaining her training, runs and nutrition to her many followers. She’s not one to give out advice that she’s unsure on, but she’s passionate about supporting others in finding what works for them.
An outgoing introvert, Aria finds time to fit her workouts in, trained by her sister (who has her own fitness company) alongside many of the wāhine in her immediate and extended whānau throughout Aotearoa and Australia via zoom. She spends time with her husband, Calvin, and their two senior pets as well as working a full time job in the Financial Services industry.
Her determination is apparent, she knows the work she physically needs to do to get her goals, but it’s her mental toughness that will see her cross that finish line.
Originally from Te Tai Tokerau (Northland), Aria now lives in Auckland. You’ll find her most weekends clocking up the kms in her bright sport skirts and matching shoes.
