A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
They haven't taken over Super Rugby Aupiki completely . . . yet.
But there is no question that there will be a strong Gisborne Ngāti Porou influence in the competition's third year.
The competition has been extended from five rounds to seven, from March, 2024 — with semifinals and a
final, for the next two seasons — and there are players who were schooled locally, with family ties here, in each of the four New Zealand teams.
Hard-nosed loose-forward Charmaine McMenamin (Gisborne Girls' High School), 33, will be back on deck with the Blues.
Fullback Renee Holmes (GGHS), 23, has transferred from the now-Whitney Hansen-coached Matatū to the Chiefs Manawa, loose-forward Kaipo Olsen-Baker (GGHS), 21, has left the Hurricanes Poua for the current champions, Matatū, and her sister Te
