About Us
Paul M Papakura was formed on the 6th April 1988. The Instructor is Grand Master Paul McPhail, 9th dan black belt, Technical Advisor for International Taekwon-Do in New Zealand and a member of the ITF Technical Committee. He has 50 years experience in Taekwon-Do.
Our club has nine different classes, specialising in Kids classes for ages 5 and older.
Our adults classes cater for family groups with members of all ages.
We are a family oriented club, and are supportive of all International Taekwon-Do events such as tournaments and seminars. The club has won many awards such as achieving second best club at the ITF World Cup in 2018 and top medal earners at the 2024 National Tournament. The club has produced over 100 black belts with many going on to represent New Zealand at World Champs level.
International Taekwon-Do
Paul M TKD is a member club of International Taekwon-Do Foundation of New Zealand Inc (ITKD). ITKD is very much a “family” organisation, having grown from a few small clubs in Palmerston North and Wellington in the early 1970s. These clubs produced black belts that in turn started new clubs, and the organisation grew. Today we have over 50 schools nationwide.
International Taekwon-Do was first registered in New Zealand as an Incorporated Society in 1981 and is today recognised as a “National Sporting Organisation” by Sport New Zealand. Each and every year since then International Taekwon-Do has run regional and National Tournaments for its members, as well as hundreds of other events. It is recongnised by the International Taekwon-Do Federation (ITF).
In recent years our competitors have made huge impact on the international tournament scene and were placed first at the ITF World Championships hosted in Wellington, 2011 and again at the ITF World Cup in Sydney 2018.
Find out what the benefits of belonging to International Taekwon-Do are here.
Our Instructors
Grand Master Paul McPhail, 9th dan
Grand Master Paul McPhail began his training in 1975, a student of Mr Norman Ng in Palmerston North. He was promoted to 1st dan black belt at age sixteen, and later became assistant instructor to Master Evan Davidson at the Khandallah branch in Wellington.
In 1985 he moved to Auckland to become a professional Taekwon-Do instructor. He started Auckland’s third club (Manurewa) in February 1985, North Shore branch in April and Papakura branch in 1988.
Grand Master McPhail began examining in 1988 on his promotion to 4th dan black belt. He attended international instructors courses conducted by the Founder of Taekwon-Do, General Choi Hong Hi. He is qualified as an International Instructor and A Grade International Umpire. In 1994 he was awarded the ‘Outstanding Instructor Medal’ from the International Taekwon-Do Federation. He was promoted to 8th dan in 2013. In 2015 he was made a member of the ITF Technical Committee.
Grand Master McPhail authored several books which are used as the syllabus throughout New Zealand including the gup and dan syllabus books, the self defence handbook and the white belt handbook.
See Grand Master McPhail full timeline here | Read about Grand Master McPhail and General Choi here
Mr Kishan Mistry, 4th dan
Mr Mistry began his Taekwon-Do journey in 2004 at the age of 9. He initially trained at Infinity Manurewa, which merged with Paul M’s Papakura club in 2006. He earned his 1st Dan black belt in 2008 and started assisting with Minikids classes later that year.
While pursuing his university studies, his training time decreased, but he resumed full involvement in 2018 after completing his degree. He is a qualified optometrist.
In 2022, he was appointed as an Assistant Instructor, and by 2024, he advanced to the role of Co-Instructor.
Assistant Instructors
- Mr Bryan Reynolds
- Mr Logan Lum
Leadership Team 2025
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Intern:
Ja Seng Lama
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Team members: (Up-and-coming students who assist voluntarily)
Pereise Utupo-Suluape, River Swaris, Kaveesha Prasad, Jaya Rees, Harsimran Rehal, Livleen Kaur, Ruth Rees, Nitin Joshi and Junior Members: Janiru Rathnayaka and Cove Swaris.
Mini-Kids Instructors
- Monday Mini-Kids: Grand Master McPhail assisted by Mr Bryan Reynolds and Leadership Team members Ja Seng Lama, River Swaris, Kaveesha Prasad, Harsimran Rehal, Livleen Kaur, Nitin Joshi and Junior Members Janiru Rathnayaka and Cove Swaris.
- Wednesday Mini-Kids: Mr Mistry assisted by Mr Bryan Reynolds and Leadership Team members Pereise Utupo-Suluape, River Swaris, Jaya Rees, Ruth Rees, Kaveesha Prasad, Nitin Joshi and Junior Members Janiru Rathnayaka and Cove Swaris.
The Wharerau Cup is awarded to a person who has exemplified the tenets of Taekwon-Do throughout the year.
In memory of Mr Kerry Wharerau, one of our black belts who did exactly that, and sadly passed away after a long battle with cancer.
Amy Childs – 2019
Manveer Singh Saini – 2020
Wedaad Waja – 2022
Glen Harding – 2023
