Whanau can come together for sport

THE Te Arawa Pride - Takurua Hapu Challenge is set to revitalise traditional Maori games and attract strong participation this weekend.
The two-day event will be hosted by Te Papatakoro O Te Arawa at the Rotorua Girls' High School Arena and will include teams of local whanau, organisations and marae, battling it out for the top title and preparing for the 2011 Te Arawa games next Easter.
Games will include basketball, netball, volleyball and the Maori traditional game ki-o-rahi.
Ki-o-rahi is a fast running contact sport, played on a circular field. It involves a range of tactics including imaginative handling and swift passing of a the ball.
It is a traditional pre-European Maori ball game that was once played by Maori throughout the country and different tribes would play different adaptations of the game.
This weekend unlimited subbing will be allowed and each team must have at least one member aged 12 or under and one aged 46 or over.
There will also be ki-o-rahi workshops, food stalls, hangi and children aged 5 to 10 can learn how to play soccer and tapuae.
Event organiser Aneta Morgan said the event was one of a series of hapu challenge events being held throughout the year to prepare participants for the big Te Arawa games next year.
"It's all about keeping the iwi, hapu and marae active and whanau support. It doesn't matter what age you are or if you don't often play sports, it's about participation.
"Hopefully we get fine weather and a fun positive atmosphere," she said.
Te Roro o Te Rangi trustee Greg Allen said about 60 participants from Te Roro O Te Rangi marae would take part with hopefully five teams or more in each sport.
He said the event was a good way to bring whanau back together.
"The event has encouraged whanau from Rotorua and as far as Wellington and Auckland to come together and reconnect as a whanau which has been great.
"Personally it's uplifting and inspiring being involved in a positive iwi-type competition and I look forward to seeing who will turn up on the day," he said.
- Competition gets under way at 8.30am-5pm on Saturday, continuing on Sunday. Registrations are closed but the public is encouraged to go along and support. For more information contact Aneta Morgan on (07) 3483377 or email aneta@papatakoro.org.nz.