Teen Mum Rhiarne's Story

Pregnant at 13. In the final episode of Flying Solo we meet junior squash champ Rhiarne, her toddler Braydon and the extended whanau embracing their teenage solo-mum.

"My mum and dad knew I was really scared. I was terrified. I didn't know what to do."

The first thing Rhiarne Taiapa did was lock herself away for weeks. She and her parents took down all social media. She 'disappeared' for the last term of year 9 that year.

Rhiarne was thirteen years old - and she'd just found out she was pregnant.

"It was real hard telling my mum and dad. I couldn't change anything, couldn't do anything 'bout it, 'cause it was just too late ... My son is not a regret, 's what I just keep on telling myself."

In many ways 16 year-old Rhiarne is a typical teenager, but then she's also exceptional. She's solo-mother to two year old son Braydon and she's a brilliant young sports star.

Rhiarne was barely even a teenager when she got pregnant and is now raising two year-old Braydon. It's something she couldn't do without her extended Taiapa-Hurunui sports fanatic whanau. Mum Rachel, dad Amesh and older sister Shayleigh, fiancé T.K. and their two kids Lakoda (4) and Kahn (2) all live under the same roof; a large, warm four bedroom home in the heart of Hastings, Hawkes Bay.

Contrary to stereotype, New Zealand's teen birth rate has dropped each year since 2008. As of 2016 it had halved - down to 16 births per 1,000 women aged 15-19.

Rhiarne was 28 weeks pregnant when the whanau found out, almost by accident, during a routine visit to the doctor.

Under New Zealand law, unmarried mothers have primary right to custody - but what happens when both parents are minors? In Braydon's case, both his parents were 13-years-old at the time, so grandparents Rachel and Amesh became Braydon's legal guardians until Rhiarne turned 16.

What's life like for this teen-mum?

It's pretty relentless. Braydon, school, squash, Braydon ... and then school all over again. Not the normal teenage routine, but one that Rhiarne and her whanau have embraced.

A day in Rhiarne's life

It's early Saturday morning at the squash courts in Palmerston North and Rachel Hurunui, Rhiarne's mum is her wing-woman. There for her at every moment, watching each game, cheering her on.

They'd driven down from Hastings on Friday after a busy week. Rachel picks Rhiarne up from school and drive her to where ever squash tournaments take place, anywhere across the country. She will even raise the funds and fly across the globe - whatever it takes to support her talented young sports champ daughter…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details