From Tolaga Bay to Brazil games

REPRESENTING AOTEAROA: Front, Whetu Rangihaeata, Hinemoana Pardoe, Kahurangi Delamere and Earle Karini. Back, Brook-Benton Raroa-Chambers and Hoakima Harris-Marino. They are leaving today to represent New Zealand at the World Indigenous Games in Brazil. The four Tolaga Bay Area students, flanked by their two teachers, were selected as part of the New Zealand contingent to showcase Ki o Rahi on the world stage. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

A GROUP of Tolaga Bay students will wear the silver fern today as they head off to Brazil for the first World Indigenous Games.

The games involve more than 30 countries. Participants will compete in a variety of sporting events ranging from a few Western-style competitions, to many indigenous traditional games.

Hinemoa Pardoe, Kahurangi Delamere, Brook-Benton Raroa-Chambers and Hoakima Harris-Marino from Tolaga Bay Area School, have been selected as part of the 34-member New Zealand delegation, to showcase ki o rahi, a traditional Maori game.

Some events at the games will be played competitively but there will be a huge number of non-competitive demonstration events, in which indigenous peoples have chosen to showcase their heritage.

Aside from the odd trip to Australia or the islands, the four students have never been so far away from home, says Hinemoa.

“I think it will be a good experience to see how other people live. I am excited to get on the plane. We cannot wait to be able to come home and share our knowledge too.”

Kahurangi and Hinemoa are best friends, making the trip that much more special.

“I am overwhelmed. It is so cool that I get to travel with my best friend and a part of the Uawa community. We want to be good role models and show other students here that if they focus they can do well,” says Kahurangi.

Discussions, lectures and fairsThe sports side of the games will run alongside a series of discussions in which each culture teaches other countries about their ways and traditions, known as the Indigenous People’s Social Forum. There will also be a series of lectures and fairs.

Teachers Whetu Rangihaeta and Earle Karini will travel with the students. Mr Rangihaeta says it is awesome to see TGBAS efforts recognised on a national scale, as they started the sport’s revival in the region.

“It is great to have our hard work recognised. This is the trip of a lifetime — thank you so much to our school board, the community and the students families for helping us make it happen.

“The Brazilian government has stepped up big time in terms of honouring indigenous people.”

The group found out they had been selected near the end of term three, giving them only a short time period to raise the amount needed — around $30,000 — to get to Brazil.

Brook-Benton cannot wait to meet new people and showcase traditional Maori customs on the world stage.

“We are proud to represent our country, school and community.”

Mr Karini says he hopes the trip will inspire others.

“I hope this shows the younger ones that there are lots of opportunities for them. Just because we are all the way out here, the world is still your oyster and we are up there with the best.”

The trip starts with the group leaving Gisborne Airport today, with a stopover in Auckland before they depart to Santiago. They will spend a few days in Rio before making their way to Palmas where the games are held from October 23 to November 1.

There will be a diverse range of traditional games to partake in, from football, to the spear throw, to xikunahity, a football-style game in which the ball is controlled only with the head. Ethiopia, Guatemala, America, Venezuela and Russia are just some of the confirmed countries taking part