Lynne Holmberg has written a summary of 100 years of YMP hockey which features in today’s Herald.
“There are parts missing and probably people omitted who have contributed greatly to our success and continuation. I look forward to adding to that historical record for future generations.
“We would love to hear your stories should you wish to share them.”
On May 23, 1923, an ad was placed in the Poverty Bay Herald advising that a meeting was to be held for women keen on playing hockey . . . and so began YMP hockey.
A series of matches were played at Manutuke.
Meetings and fundraising dances were held at the Manutuke meeting house, also known as Maori Battalion or Manutuke Marae. Ohako Marae also hosted dances which were often held on weeknights.
The origins of YMP (Young Maori Party) began at Te Rau Theological College in April 1910. It was established by Sir Peter Buck, Sir Apirana Ngata, Dr Maui Pomare and Matua Frederick Bennett with the aim of promoting the revival of Maori social and mental wellbeing through culture, reo and sports.
The rugby arm of the club was established that year and in 1923 Manutuke hockey club affiliated to YMP.
The YMP colours were changed from the red and black originally worn by the rugby team to the now widely recognised black and white .
The motto was “Kia Kaha, Kia Toa”.
To this day YMP rugby and hockey are the oldest clubs in Gisborne still playing in their respective codes.
Netball came under the YMP umbrella in 1969 and waka ama was added in 2016.
The club’s first joint prizegiving was held at the Māori Battalion marae on August 21, 1923.
Almost 100 years to the day, YMP’s 2023 combined prizegiving will acknowledge not only the players who have distinguished themselves throughout the season but those who have made the club and its people strong, proud, competitive and compassionate, including early members such as Berkie Halbert, Sam Moeau and Monk Pomana.
Hockey and rugby in the district were originally played at Childers Road Reserve. It worked well as the men were able to play hockey in the morning alongside the women, and rugby in the afternoon.
This all changed when rugby moved to the Oval. Men’s hockey numbers declined until they were unable to field a team.
The women continued despite the uncertain and challenging times of the 1930s and 40s.
Phyllis Maynard first played for YMP in the 1950s while at school prior to attending Ardmore Teachers College. Prominent names from that time included Millie Nepe, Keita Wharehinga and Kimi Whaitiri.
When Phyllis returned from Ardmore in 1962 she found sister Nancy was struggling to field a team due to several key players having babies and looking after their families.
After a lot of hard work fundraising and canvassing, they went from a seven-a-side team to having a full complement of players.
These included the legendary Dee Tureia, Bobby Whaitiri, Girlie Smiler, Babe Pointon and Kerianna Hokianga.
They were joined by the young sisters Betty and Judith Moeau and Jocelyn Carroll.
Coaches through these times were John Maynard, Ben Hokianga, Pong Wyllie and Phyllis Maynard (now Rickard after marrying Claude Rickard).
YMP women’s hockey began a golden era in the 60s which went right through to the late 80s.
Coaches during this period were Phyllis Rickard, Don Maynard, Johnny Maynard, Calvin Rickard (Phyllis’s son) and Nick Tupara.
Numbers increased so it was decided to form a B team.
This team also had great success and gave the younger players vital experience at the senior level.
YMP teams travelled to the popular Maori tournaments and proved highly competitive.
They competed against sides from Hawke’s Bay, Poverty Bay and the East Coast at various venues for cultural and hockey trophies.
Among the highly sought-after silverware were those for best uniforms, the march past and overall aggregate points.
YMP won many Poverty Bay championships, and seven aside and opening day tournaments .
A lot of their players over the years achieved provincial and national recognition.
Families who have been staunch supporters over the years as players, coaches and in administrative roles include Tureia, Maynard, Hokianga, Milner, Scragg, Wyllie, Nepe, Nepia, Whaitiri, Harrison, Rickard, Moeau, Tupara and Tamatea.
The late 70s and 1980s were a particularly good era for the club.
Fundraisers were held for end-of-season trips to Taupō, Rotorua, Hawke’s Bay and Wairapapa, and up the Coast .
Cabarets were a great money-earner. These were held at the Archery Club, Army Hall and Kaiti Memorial Hall and tickets sold like hot cakes.
Trips away were wonderful experiences, Travelling by a bus in the hands of trusty driver Claude Rickard, the club took family, supporters and players to tournaments all over the North Island.
It fostered camaraderie and a strong team spirit . . . and several marriages resulted from socialising between the teams.
It was during one of these early trips the men decided that if they were going to travel, they might as well play after many years of the club not having a men’s side.
Two teams consisting of husbands, partners and brothers of the women entered the Maori tournament in 1979 and 1980.
Most were rugby players who had never held a hockey stick. It was not pretty at first — one player was banned from picking up a stick again — but the team gained momentum and in 1981 YMP men became part of the Poverty Bay competition.
Claude Rickard, Nick Tupara and John Maynard were instrumental in getting them up and running .
The Kingi brothers starred while Bill Tamatea, another rugby player, also changed codes and became a player, coach and vocal and loyal supporter.
In looking to the future, the Gisborne Boys’ High team were invited to the YMP prizegiving and after leaving school, many of them went on to play for YMP from the early 1980s.
By 1984, the men’s skills had developed to the point where they were winning and winning well.
They went from strength to strength, gaining more players and skilled coaches — among them Val Russell, Patrick Dewes,Neil Hopps and Peter Tupara.
To this day, YMP men’s team have won or been runners-up in the PBHA premier championship many times and have collected numerous other trophies.
Wai Koia, Greg Somerville and Greg Parker featured prominently while David Mackey has been a constant presence over the decades as a player, coach, manager and organiser (nowadays of the men’s B team).
The young ones of the 90s are now old hands who continue to play vital roles. Michael Bond, Heath Tupara and Peter Tupara remain an integral part of the club and have been joined more recently by Kohere Tupara and Dallas Kerr.
More recent coaches have been Patrick Dewes, Wai Koia, Brendan Lennane and current coach James Torrie.
The women’s teams’ dominance continued into the 1990s but as times changed, families actively involved with YMP shifted to Australia while younger players moved away for education and work opportunities, and others started families.
YMP struggled to field a team but thanks to older players coming out of retirement and “babies” who played primary hockey in the morning and turned out for the senior side in the afternoon, they were able to field a team each Saturday.
The Pepere, Heemi, Koia and Tarawa whanau provided amazing support during this period.
This carried on for several seasons until the return to Gisborne by Jane Tureia (1993) and brother Pare (1995), who brought with them a wealth of experience, skill and new coaching ideas.
Pare’s return was the beginning of over 23 years coaching the premier team and many junior and school teams. He continues to manage and coach today .
Nancy Tarawa and Courtney Onekawa returned to Gisborne to play in the women’s team and coach the YMP juniors during the mid-2000s.
Although they left to live in Auckland for a time, they were actively involved until last year — coaching and playing in the women’s premier team .
They also coached the Tairawhiti Haupoi Maori team from its inception to 2021.
The national Maori hockey tournament was revitalised in 1992 at Labour Weekend and many YMP players have been selected in tournament teams.
YMP women’s team contnued their development and after a period of rebuilding won their first championship for several years in 2007.
Under the watchful eye of Pare Tureia and assisted at various times by Maurice Kururangi, Wai Koia, Nancy Tarawa and Courtney Onekawa, they developed a strong, skilful team who have been competitive and in contention for championship honours every year since.
James Torrie became part of the coaching team in 2021/22.
After a period of recess, the women’s B team reformed last season and have had great success in a short period under the influence of Morgan Tuhou, Ana Te Kani and Kristi Brown.
They have several young ones playing and continuing the tradition and this year are being ably coached by Tamanay Tuhou
YMP hockey today is strong and remains whanau-oriented, and an enormous thanks must to go to all who have contributed over the years.
The economy and changing working environment has made fielding teams and practices difficult but this has only hardened the club’s resolve.
Primary codes becoming club-aligned has enhanced the YMP model of nurturing tamariki and rangatahi.
Many primary and intermediate grade hockey teams are now with YMP as it recognises their importance to the future of the club and the game .
In 2022, the YMP A men’s and women’s teams won their respective premier championships.
With YMP also winning the Premier men’s club rugby title and Premier Grade women’s netball crowns, history was created as the first club in Gisborne to be champions in the three codes in the one season.
The joint hockey, netball and rugby prizegiving at the end of the season was a time to reflect on the vision showed by YMP’s founding fathers and the dedication of the past and present players, coaches and supporters.
