Matariki Games at Taipa today

Over 20 Northland schools are converging on Taipa Area School today to take part in the Matariki Ki-o-Rahi Games 2016, which forms part of the local Maori new year celebrations.

Now in its sixth year, the games will see teams from as far afield as Te Hapua, Whangarei and Panguru competing in ki-o-rahi in a bid to celebrate and preserve traditional Maori sports in schools.

Event spokeswoman Paulette Lewis said the games have been held each year at Taipa Area School since traditional Maori games guru Harko Brown first held a workshop in the Far North in 2009.

"The games really came about off the back of the work that we had already been doing with ki-o-o-rahi in schools. We thought that since the game in schools was a regular thing, annual games would be a great way for schools to see how each other play it and what they bring," she said.

With participants in this year's event ranging in age from Year 3 to Year 13, and while ki-o-rahi is the only taonga taakaro (sport) featured, Paulette said organisers were planning to introduce other games such as ti-uru or hakariki at future events.

It was also noted the Matariki Ki-o-Rahi Games today represented a wonderful opportunity to tie in Maori concepts of wellbeing and whanaungatanga through Far North schools.

"Good health and wellbeing occur where mind, body, spirit, relationships and environment are in harmony. The Matariki Ki-o-Rahi Games are a shining example of this concept at work. Bring it on!"

-Ki-o-Rahi is a ball game set out in circular formation with a central tupu, or rock, at its middle. Although today's variation has typically seen the rock replaced with a large drum, play remains the same and designed to combine teamwork and quick hand-eye co-ordination to reach the central target.

Paulette Lewis is the senior co-ordinator of Tuturu Tangata, a programme contracted to Te Rarawa Anga Mua which utilises matauranga Maori to strengthen and develop Far North communities that contribute to mana oranga or the ownership of total well-being.