Pa Wars: reconnecting with home

SPRINT: Boosting down the track in the Mens' 100m sprint final at Pa Wars.

Ngati Porou uri (descendants) came out in force at this year's Ngati Porou inter-marae sports festival, more commonly known as Pa Wars.

Around 4000 people went to Ngata Memorial College in Ruatorea yesterday to compete and enjoy the day within the Ngati Porou rohe.

Te Runanganui o Ngati Porou marae kaitakawaenga (mediator) and Pa Wars organiser Leeanne Morice said this year's event was probably the largest in recent years.

“After having a year off due to Covid, just being able to come together and enjoy one another's company in true Nati fashion with a lot of laughter mixed with a lot of competitiveness was a highlight,” Leeanne said.

TRONPnui chair Selwyn Parata said another highlight was the number of young Ngati Porou from all over Aotearoa and Australia who came home to connect or reconnect with their whanau in the homelands of Ngati Porou.

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“All are now excited for 2024 Pa Wars. We even had people among us from the US, Norway and Switzerland who were on holiday,” he said.

Twenty-four marae registered for the 33 events.

The overall winning marae was Waiparapara, followed by Hinerupe in second, and Hinemaurea ki Wharekahika in third place.

The events included relay races, sprints, basketball, chess, darts, euchre, a fun walk, karaoke, kiorahi, line dancing, mixed touch rugby, netball, pool, ripper rugby, women's rugby 7s, men's rugby 7s, swimming races, a team parade, tennis, Trivial Pursuit for both juniors and seniors, tug-o-war, a Ngati and health and nati kids category.

Although horse sports weren't in the mix this time, on Saturday January 7, Tapuaeroa Horse Sports are on at Whakarua Park.

“Everyone just seemed to have a really happy positive vibe — the feeling was great,” Leeanne said.

“The day was celebrated by all, right from our babies through to our kaumatua,” she said.

The organisers would like to send a huge thanks to Ngata Memorial College, TKKM o Te Waiu o Ngati Porou, Whakarua Park and Ruatoria RSA and a huge mihi to all the marae, sponsors and kaimahi who made the day possible.