Maori hockey tournaments were held in various centres, but for club sides. It changed in 1992 with the hosting of the inaugural, Lifespan Smokefree National Maori Hockey tournament, at Ahuriri(Napier), during Labour week-end. With the exception of Tamaki Makaurau(Auckland, one men's and one women's team was invited from each of the seven Maori Land Court districts throughout Aotearoa. The districts include:
- Taitokerau (Northland)
- Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland)
- Waiariki (greater Bay of Plenty)
- Waikato/Maniopoto (Waikato/King Country)
- Tai Rawhiti (East Coast North Island Gisborne)
- Aotea (West Coast Nth Island Taranaki/Whanganui/ Palmerston North/ Horowhenua)
- Takitimu (Waiarapa/Wellington/Hawke's Bay)
It is held each year in the Labour week-end. This year it will be hosted by Aotea 19 - 22 October in Taranaki Stratford which is on the West Coast of the Nth Island. Stratford sits in the Central part of Taranaki on the East side of Maunga Taranki. Adjacent to the Taranki Hockey turf now sits a magnificent Sports Complex which has only recently opened for the public to utilise this week. The Maori tournament will be a great event and to have a facility such as this for all to enjoy has come as a bonus for the tournament committee and a blessing to the Complex Management Personal Jackie and Shane Doyle.
TOURNAMENT TEAMS
Fourteen teams will participate at this years tournament:6 women and 8 men. Unfortunately Tamaki Makaurau women who are the reigning champions of last years tournament will not be present, and also the absence of the team from Tai Rawhiti who have Whanau in other rohe will be felt. Some members of the team will attend the tournament and will be drafted into other rohe teams.
RELATIONSHIPS
The tournament is run with the blessing of the New Zealand Hockey Federation and with support and Sponsorship from Lifespan Smokefree and now another Major Sponsor for the tournament over the last few years has been Te Puni Kokiri. Without their input and support this tournament would not be possible.
ORGANISATION
In addition to being for the benefit of Maori sports people, the tournament is an opportunity for Maori administrators to come to the fore. The tournament is being co-ordinated and organised by a team of Aotea-region people committed to its success. The Aotea Maori Hockey Committee comprises;
Guest Members - Kaumatua Heitia and Whaea Maraget Hiha
Chairperon - Kaumatua Sam KereamaPalmerston North)
Tourn Chair/p - Graham Bayley Taranaki
Tourn Co-ordinator - Sharon Watson
Secretary - Wendy Bayley
Treasurer - Jackie Herewini
Kaumatua - Tiki Nahi, Jim Sole
Members - Barry Watson, Andrew Herewini, Kiri Galvin, Patsy Ratu, Rawinia Noble, Linn Wineera, Kestelle Wineera, Martin Jordan, Johnson Hamahona.
All but three of the 14 teams will be accommodated Marae style in Stratford adjacent to the Hockey Turf. Whakaahurangi Marae/Kohanga Reo Whanau and community volunteers of Stratford will play host to the 300 - 400 strong whanau who will be in attendance at the tournament for the four days.
TINORANGATIRATANGA
By its nature, the tournament is an exercise in Tinorangatiratanga-the right and ability of Maori people to make decisions for and on behalf of themselves, to determine their future and in these circumstances the opportunity to have a say and to do what ever is required to ensure that Maori who participate in this sport have the best opportunity to succeed in the enviornment that they are accustomed to.
SELECTED TOURNAMENT TEAMS
New Zealand Snr Men's and Women's Teams are selected from this tournament each year. New Zealand Under 21 Men's and women's squad are selected also. The UN21 Men's and women's squads will meet each January to hold a camp. From the camp an Un21 National Team is selected.
These serve to give all Maori players goals to aspire to in terms of representing their Whanau, hapu,iwi at national level. It is the insentive of the Kaunihera Haupoi Maori Governing body to exploit the talents of these players by including them in matches against all National hockey oversees teams who come to New Zealand and to enable our players the opportunity to play in tournaments overseas.
There are indiginous hockey tournaments but due to the cost factor and lack of Sponsorship we are unable to make this a reality for all concerned.
We have had many players over the years who have made the New Zealand National Teams. Many of the Snr National representatives will be present at the tournament this week.
The Snr Men and women's team have had an invitation from Malaysia for the coming year. We are presently looking for a major Sponsor to enable our teams to go.
For our Juniors we will try to seek games for them whether it be inter island games or with international teams who come to NZ or games overseas.
HIGH ACHIEVEMENT WARD
This Whaea Margaret Hiha was awarded a LIFE MEMBER of the New Zealand Hockey Federation. Margaret is an ex New Zealand Hockey Representive, Coach and selector who has dedicated her life to the sport she so dearly loves. She was one of the major instigators that originally set up the first Maori Tournament back in 1992.
She is a driving force on the Kaunihera Maori Committee who gives support and works to promote exposure of Maori in hockey. She is a well known and respected person in the Hockey Circle for her dedication and committment and for the tremendous amount of time and energy she gives willingly to enable Maori players to achieve their goals.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
- To encourage Maori players to participate in hockey at a higher level, higher level performance,skills and fitness.
- To enable Maori players to experience the uniqueness of a Maori Tournament.
- To attract and hold, more young Maori into the sport.
- To support all Whanau, hapu, and iwi inititives and to foster greater participation of Maori in hockey at all levels and all sectors.
- To offer support(financial, moral, spiritual, legal, cultural or other as required) to promote the elevation of Maori through their respective levels of endeavour in hockey.
- To foster and promote exposure of Maori in Hockey (sporting and cultural) nationally and internationally.
- To encourage the full open use of Maori at all levels of planning and organisation.
- To encourage participation in kapa haka(cultural performances),reo and tikanga(language and custom)sessions which are integral to the Maori hockey organisation, locally, regionally and nationally.
- Sunday night will see all teams participate in kapa haka at the Po Whakangahau (social event held on Sunday night for all teams and supporters, which is a traditional event at all Maori Hockey tournaments held.
LOOKING AHEAD
The tournament will continue to be hosted by respective rohe(regions) on request. The Maori Hockey Committee in that rohe(region), will effectively become the national Maori Hockey Committee for the subsequent year. This is in keeping with the kaupapa (philosiphy) of sharing the tournament around in order to encourage the development of organisational and related skills, required for preparation of such a tournament.
NOTE
While the tournament is recognised by the New Zealand Hockey Federation, it is totally Maori driven and controlled.
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