Pa Wars

It's mate versus mate and . . . hey, marae versus marae, at the Iwi of Origin tournament, writes Helen Laurent
When Bob Newson thinks of home, he looks north. The 60-year-old will always feel an affinity for the sleepy village of Mitimiti in the northern Hokianga. For there are the roots of his iwi, Te Rarawa, which the Te Atatu resident will represent at the Iwi of Origin gathering next month.
Last year's first Iwi of Origin tournament, organised by Harbour Sport, attracted 300 participants for an all-day sports event.
Teams representing 13 iwi from all over the country gathered at the Netball North Harbour complex in Northcote for a "marchpast" to show off colours and banners, then a hikoi through surrounding bush.
Netball and golf tournaments, touch rugby and a tug o' war were contested.
Harbour Sport organiser Wiremu Mato, of Ngati Porou (East Coast), got the idea from watching intermarae competitions around the country.
"It's called 'Pa Wars' and they are marae versus marae sports events," he says. "They are a chance to catch up with people, have a laugh. The main thing is camaraderie. I thought, 'How can we mimic that in Auckland, where we don't have anything like it?' "
Last year's event was all about having fun. Friendly banter between iwi is always expected.
"The aim is to celebrate Maori participation in sport and to promote tribal identity. A lot of Maori in Auckland, through urbanisation, have lost touch with their iwi."
Despite living many kilometers away, Bob Newson is committed to keeping ties with Te Rarawa through iwi development work with the Northland tribe.
He talks with pride of Te Rarawa winning the golf tournament last year. He's been a golfer for 10 years since calling quits on his rugby career at age 50.
"My handicap is 18. But my goal is to get it down to single figures," he says.
Mr Newson describes last year's Iwi of Origin as a day of comradeship and says it can help urban Maori gain a better understanding of their heritage.
"Eventually, you start asking, 'Where do I come from?'. And you go about finding out.
"You move away, live all around the country, but I feel my home is still back up north in Mitimiti. That's where my ties are, my hapu, my iwi and my whanau."
Iwi of Origin, September 27, Netball North Harbour. Registration: www.harboursport.co.nz