[Rotorua, 7 April 2026] Digital Natives Academy, is proud to announce that its team, DNA Yokai, has qualified for the New Zealand Secondary Schools (NZSS) Esports National Finals, placing them among the top eight teams in the country.
The qualification follows a strong performance in the season, where DNA Yokai secured 1st place in the Premier Division after five weeks of competition, finishing ahead of Macleans Rivals from Macleans College and TPOA Titans from Te Paepae o Aotea, who placed second and third respectively.
More than just a team, Yokai represents a journey shaped by identity, belonging, and growth. Formed in 2025, the team took its name from the Marvel Rivals character Psylocke, inspired by the idea of yokai in Japanese folklore. Supernatural beings that are powerful, unique, and unforgettable. What began as a name has become a space where rangatahi can stand proudly in who they are and feel a true sense of belonging.
For many of the players, this was their first time being part of a team, their first time feeling seen, and their first experience of connection through a shared purpose. Experiences like travelling to the Armageddon Expo in 2025, for some their first time leaving Rotorua, have opened up new possibilities and confidence in ways that extend far beyond the game.
The national finals will take place live at Armageddon Auckland, where the country’s top eight teams will compete face-to-face in front of a live audience.
Matt Leef (Ngāpuhi), DNA Esports Coach, said the success of the team reflects much more than competitive performance.
Esports creates a real sense of belonging for our rangatahi. Through playing together, they have been able to build friendships, grow in confidence, and develop a stronger belief in themselves. Since forming as a team, the players have also started engaging in gym sessions and other physical activity as a way to support their overall performance, focus, and wellbeing. What many people do not always see is how esports can inspire positive habits beyond the game, building stronger connections, healthier routines, and greater confidence in all areas of life.”
One of this year’s competition titles is Marvel Rivals (PC/Console), a fast-paced, superhero-themed battle arena featuring Marvel’s iconic heroes and villains. The game requires high-level coordination, adaptability, and communication, with teams competing across a series of dynamic objectives.
Vi Kingi (Te Arawa), Team Manager, said the environment created around the team has been a key part of helping players thrive.
“Our space is about more than just competition. It is about creating an environment where our players feel supported, connected, and able to bring out the best in one another. We have received messages from whānau that stop us in our tracks. One parent shared how their child, who once struggled with school, friendships, and confidence, has begun to open up, to smile more, and to believe in themselves again. They spoke about the joy of seeing their child finally feel like they belong somewhere.
Other players have spoken about anxiety, isolation, and spending most of their time alone. Gaming was once something they did in silence, disconnected from others. Now, through Yokai and the esports space at Digital Natives Academy, they are showing up. They are laughing, communicating, building friendships, getting physically active together and finding comfort in a space where they are understood. That sense of teamwork, trust, and shared purpose has been a huge part of this journey.”
Reaching the national finals highlights not only the team’s competitive success, but also the impact of programmes delivered by Digital Natives Academy which empower rangatahi to build capability in digital technologies, teamwork, a growth mindset, work-readiness, and future-focused pathways.
Potaua Biasiny-Tule (Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāi Tūhoe), Cofounder and Chief Strategic Officer, said the achievement reflects the wider vision behind the kaupapa.
This is about more than a team qualifying. It is about creating spaces where our rangatahi can stand strong in who they are, grounded in their identity and connected to their culture, while navigating the digital world. For us, it has always been about building pathways where our people are not just participating in technology, but leading it, shaping it, and bringing our values into those spaces for future generations.”
DNA Yokai will now compete for the title of NZSS Champion against New Zealand’s top secondary school teams at Armageddon Auckland from 25 to 27 April 2026, in the national finals delivered by the New Zealand Esports Federation.
