Gisborne to host two-day secondary schools team sport tournament

Manutūkē School’s kī-o-rahi team are ready to compete in this week’s secondary schools nationals competition. Pictures by Tūranga Health

Showcase of kī-o-rahi skills.

Kī-o-rahi rōpū from across Aotearoa will gather at Watson Park tomorrow and and Friday to compete in the Manarahi Kī-o-Rahi Kura Tuarua — The National Secondary Schools’ Kī-o-rahi Tournament.

Kī-o-rahi is a large team game played between two teams, kioma and taniwha, on a large circular field.

It is played for four quarters or two halves, with teams alternating roles of kioma and taniwha at half or quartertime.

Dallas Poi, kaiwhakahaere for the event, says it is going to be a massive two days, with 36 schools from across the motu coming to compete.

“Everyone’s excited — all the kura are excited and ready to go,” Ms Poi said.

Local teams competing are Tolaga Bay Area School, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori (TKKM) o Te Waiū, TKKM o Kawakawa Mai Tawhiti, Manutūkē School, Horouta Wānanga, Ngata Memorial College, Ritana Lytton High and Tūranga Tāne Tūranga Wāhine.

“Come down and have an experience. See our kura from all over the motu, and the rangatahi showing off their skills in this space,” she said.

There are more than 700 people coming from across the country to compete and watch the event.

Pacific Street will be temporarily closed between SH2 and Centennial Marine Drive from 6am till 6pm on both days.

Iwi health organisation Tūranga Health is the lead host, alongside Whiti Ora Tairāwhiti and working alongside the national kī-o-rahi committee.

They started planning for this in November and organisers are ready to unlock all that planning tomorrow.

The two-day event will start with a pōhiri at 8.30am at Watson Park, followed by the first round at 9am.

The teams that qualified for nationals would have competed in their own regional qualifier and finished in the top four.

The event is open to all and there is no cost to come to watch and support.

Tūranga Health are the food vendors.

The final round is at 2pm on Friday and the prizegiving will be after that.

The mauri (life-force) will be passed on to the next host region to prepare for the next nationals.

• A social media presence via Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok, under the name Manarahi Kī-o-Rahi Kura Tuarua 2024, will be where videos and photographs are posted.