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.
