Rotorua Kaumātua connect, get fit and compete with Kaumātua Olympics

June Marino, 86 (left), Mahora Whiston, 79, Joseph Te Mata Tarei, 80 and Pare Aratema, 79, at Instinctive Fitness with workout equipment. Photo / Stephen Parker

It was all about connection with a good dose of competition as a group of Rotorua's elderly took on the Kaumātua Olympics.

The Kaumātua Olympics were held at Rototuna High School in Hamilton on Friday.

The 20 Te Arawa kaumātua who took part in the event who were split into two teams.

The only criteria for the event was that participants had to be 65 years old or more, and the kaumātua did not know what activities were planned beforehand.

The local kaumātua who went are part of the group Pakaru Tinana which meets at Instinctive Fitness on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Image 1 of 5:

On Tuesdays there are a range of activities they may do, including circuits, boxing and walking. On Thursdays they kanikani (dance).

Kaumātua Mahora Whiston, 79, said she was looking forward to meeting up with other kaumātua and connecting with people.

Joseph Te Mata Tarei, 80, said it was great to bring elderly people together, and he would love to see their local fitness group and the Kaumātua Olympics continue in the future.

Pare Aratema, 79, said events like this helped to give them a gauge of what other kaumātua were doing in other areas.

"The beauty of this is it's fun."

The Games

Posted by Rauawaawa Kaumatua Charitable Trust on Thursday, 13 September 2018

The games included noodle hockey, boccia, giant jenga, cup pong, kplonk and giant connect four.

One of the Pukarara Tinana teams took home the prize for being the best dressed on the day.

They are aiming for the Iron Māori taking place in Napier during November. The Kaumātua Olympics is a great way of training for this.

The Women's Health League Rotorua branch and Dr Laurie Morrison co-ordinated the local kaumātua taking part.