Hundreds converge for National Maori Basketball Tournament in Rotorua

Te Arawa mixed-team player Eliana Maxwell in action during last year's Maori Basketball Nationals in Rotorua. Photo / File

This year's National Maori Basketball Tournament in Rotorua is set to be bigger and better than ever before.

The tournament, which starts tomorrowand finishes on Saturday, is in its fourth year and the number of teams competing continues to grow.

Last year, in grades ranging from under-9 to masters and open divisions, there were 162 teams competing. This year 198 teams have entered.

Tournament director Sue Pene said there were 21 iwi represented in the tournament, which was an increase as well.

"Last year we had one or two teams from the South Island, but this year we've got eight. There are also players coming back to play for their iwi from Australia. It is a social occasion, when you've got all the whanau there. There are 7 and 8-year-olds playing in the under-9s and their grandparents are playing in the masters," Pene said.

Waikato's Tainui and Tainui Kahurangi will be the teams to beat having won the men's and women's open divisions respectively in 2017.

Last year Te Arawa was strong in the female divisions, winning the under-15 girls' and under-19 women's divisions. The Te Arawa men finished fourth in the open division, while the under-13 boys and under-11 girls finished third and the under-17 boys were runners-up in their B grade final.

Pene said there were 16 Te Arawa teams entered in the tournament this year.

"They will be very competitive in the age groups. There's a Special Olympics grade as well, with our own Te Arawa team and one from Ngati Toa. They've been playing for the past three years.

"Ngati Toa are usually quite strong throughout the tournament. Up and coming is Ngati Kahungunu, they came in last year and looked really strong."

She said the level of competition across all divisions was always strong.

"The national Maori men's and women's head coaches will be here as well, identifying players for their teams. They played an Australian indigenous team in a series in Townsville at the end of last year, and won both three-game series, and I think there are plans in place to bring the series here this year."

Entry to the tournament is free for spectators. Games are being held at the Energy Events Centre, Rotorua Girls' High School and Western Heights High School and start about 8.30am each day and run into the evening. Finals will be played on Saturday. The tournament kicks off with a pohiri at the Energy Events Centre at 8am tomorrow.