Australian Indigenous basketball players visit Te Wharekura o Mauao
The New Zealand Māori Men's basketball team have not been able to secure a Trans-Tasman Basketball Series win since the competition became a best of three fight.
The Kiwi side hope that will change when they come up against the Australian Indigenous All Stars in Tauranga this weekend - but it won't be easy.
The 5th annual Trans-Tasman Basketball Series sees both teams play three games over consecutive nights. The sides face each other for the first match of the series in Te Awamutu tomorrow before playing at Tauranga's Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre on Friday and Saturday evenings.
The New Zealand team have only managed to win the series once since its inception when the competition was a two-game series. Each side had won one game each, but the Kiwis managed to win based on points.
The visiting national representative lineup features Australia's leading Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander basketball talent, and head coach Joel Khalu says they will be looking to secure their fourth consecutive Trans-Tasman title.
Australian Indigenous All Stars basketball player TJ Diop works with Te Wharekura o Mauao basketball player Taiapa Gear. Photo / John Borren
"Our goal is to try and retain the Trans-Tasman trophy ... we look forward to this series every year," Khalu says.
He says the team has had to get used to the travel and the cooler climate, but they're not "going to make any excuses" because they're aware of the expectations.
He's expecting the New Zealand Māori Men's side to be bigger than his side but plans to play an active game from start to finish.
Māori Basketball New Zealand acting general manager Pene Hippolite says they'd love a clean sweep against the Australian side this year but know it won't be an easy battle.
The former New Zealand basketball player expects the Australian side to be experienced and physical and as always, be a tough team to play.
"It's always a very difficult competition."
She says both sides always put on a good show and is encouraging Tauranga residents to turn out to watch some quality basketball.
"It will be an entertaining game,' she says.
Hosted by Te Maru o Mauao ki Tauranga Moana Basketball Club and Māori Basketball NZ, the Australian side visited Te Wharekura o Mauao to help take students through some basketball drills.
Australian Indigenous All Stars basketball team visited Te Wharekura o Mauao yesterday and ran a drills session with the students. Photo / John Borren
Student Te Marama Hika-Munroe, 16, said she had enjoyed being taught new skills and was looking forward to watching the games this weekend.
Te Maru o Mauao ki Tauranga Moana Basketball Club chairperson Antoine Coffin said that as a club that promoted Maori basketball. They hosted their indigenous visitors, welcoming them with a powhiri at Wairoa Marae on Monday, where they also stayed.
He says the club and the Australian team had both been able to share their own culture with each other and being able to visit the school had been something students had been looking forward to for the last couple of weeks.
"We're making connections with Australian teams," he said.
Khalu says for many of his team it was their first time staying on a marae, describing the cultural element of their trip as "unbelievable".
"It's a really cool experience for them," Khalu says.
"We're very grateful."
Meanwhile, the Friday night match will open with a curtain-raiser between Te Wharekura o Mauao and Te Kura Kōkiri, who will both be fundraising over the two-game nights to help get their teams to the 2018 BBNZ Schick Secondary Schools A national championships in Palmerston North.
What: Australian Indigenous All Stars vs New Zealand Māori Where: Queen Elizabeth Youth Centre, Memorial Park, Tauranga When: Te Awamutu, 7pm on Thursday; Tauranga, 7pm on Friday and Saturday. Doors open at 5.30pm. Entry: Gold coin donation
