A participant at the Kaumatua Olympics works to remove a Jenga block from the tower. Photo / Supplied
A participant at the Kaumatua Olympics works to remove a Jenga block from the tower. Photo / Supplied
Three hundred elderly people from throughout the North Island took part in the 14th Annual Kaumātua Olympics at The Peak, at Rototuna High Schools last week.
Rauawaawa Kaumātua Charitable Trust (RKCT) CEO Rangimahora Reddy says Friday's event was different to previous years.
"Our previous games have been mighty, butthis year's event has been in a league of its own," says Mrs Reddy.
"The changemaker for us was being hosted by Rototuna High schools in their beautiful venue and having our tamariki working with our kaumātua, developing games and logistics. It's been a great success."
It was certainly a successful event for the local organisation, with Rauawaawa Kaumātua Trust's Korowai team winning the event, along with the Best Banner award.
Second and third place went to Raukawa and Ngaruahine respectively, while the Best Dressed accolade went to Te Arawa's Pakaru Tinana.
"Having the trophy come back is amazing," says Mrs Reddy.
"We've had a drought for over five years so it's really nice to see Rauawaawa being a prize winner." Rototuna Senior High School deputy principal Heemi McDonald says the event has been months in the making for the students. They created the games, organised the rules, did the scoring, and worked in partnership with other students in the school to make the games possible, including trade students who constructed some of the activities.
"It's been a really amazing opportunity for us to see our kids in action. The intention is to establish a lasting relationship with Rauawaawa and other community organisations.
We've had grand ideas about doing more in the future, but we want to make sure that we can support our tamariki to be part of that process, so we don't take over.
"They had opportunities to lead the event and looked out for the needs of the kaumātua. I saw some really awesome things from our students. Living out our school values through our community is pretty amazing to see."
Rototuna Senior High School principal Natasha Hemara says she was blown away by the relationship development between the schools and RKCT in developing the Kaumātua Olympics.
Rototuna High Students ran the events on the day as two teams compete in a game of noodle hockey. Photo / Supplied
"This has been one of those really authentic partnerships where our students have learnt alongside people. It's also about bridging the gap between kaumātua and rangatahi. It makes your heart grow to see rich and real relationships occurring.
"Some of our kids are from South Africa and all over the world, and to see them go up to kaumātua and give them a kiss, shake their hand, have a hongi — that's meaningful. No one told them they had to do that. We said, 'how do you think we can make this meaningful? And what do you think could help build a better relationship?' And they've really engaged in that.
"I'm super proud of our kids and I'm super proud of my staff who have made this happen. But I'm really impressed with Rauawaawa for being open to try because this is a brand new school, a brand new space, and younger kids than they're used to dealing with.
That's an unnerving space and there's a trust that's gone on there, which is what you build relationships on."
Rauawaawa Kaumātua Charitable Trust thanks the planning committee, Rototuna High schools, Bupa, Te Runanga o Kirikiriroa, all the volunteers, Olympiads, spectators, supporters and stall holders for their support of the 2018 Kaumātua Olympics.
