Maori tourney revived

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

AN open Maori hockey tournament being held in Gisborne on Queen’s Birthday Weekend was last held in 2003.

The Hana Konewa, Hine Te Ariki and Taraipine Tutaki Maori Hockey Association — known to its members as Nannies Inc — will hold the tournament at Harry Barker Reserve on June 4, 5 and 6.

In running the tournament, the association — formed to honour tupuna (ancestors) and marae — aims to uphold the mana of Hana Konewa, Hine Te Ariki and Taraipine Tutaki.

Te Mauri Mini Smith, chairwoman of the association, encouraged hapu, marae and the Tairawhiti community — including other indigenous cultures — to take part in hockey and other sports. They strengthened the bonds of whakawhanaungatanga (the process of establishing relationships).

“Our last tournament was held in 2003 so we are very excited,” Smith said.

“We have a junior hockey team (Nannies Inc) playing one other team to include them in our tournament.”

She said men’s and women’s tournament teams would be selected from the three days’ play.

The tournament opening on Saturday, June 4, would feature a march-past to be judged by Poverty Bay Hockey, a 9am opening game between past players from Waituhi and Te Aowera, a 9.15am show put on by the future players of Nannies Inc, and the 9.30am official start of the tournament.