Ripia delighted to be back in Gisborne with Maori teams

FLYING THE LOCAL FLAG: Maia Rickard, and Thomas Rutene, (next picture), are playing for the New Zealand Maori under-21 women’s and men’s hockey teams against Queensland Secondary School opposition at Harry Barker Reserve this weekend. Pictures by Paul Rickard

NEW Zealand Maori Hockey chairman and former Gisbrne man Kahu Ripia says he is delighted to bring two New Zealand Maori under-21 teams to Gisborne.

The women’s and men’s teams will play Queensland Secondary Schools teams tomorrow and Sunday on the LJ Hooker Turf at Harry Barker Reserve.

“It’s a first for us and it’s great for New Zealand Maori hockey and hockey here,” Ripia said.

“We’ve long wanted to bring teams here and now that Gisborne has turf, I hope it’s the start of what could be more games here. The idea to bring the national Maori tournament back to Gisborne has been discussed for a couple of years.

“This tour by the Queenslanders will be a step in that direction.

“We’re hoping to hold the national tournament in Gisborne in 2019.”

Four local women — Moelani Tureia, Cory Campbell, Berdine Rickard and Maia Rickard — are in the women’s team (coached by another local woman, Nancy Rae Tarawa), who play at 1pm tomorrow and noon on Sunday.

Thomas Rutene and Kohere Tupara will be in the New Zealand Maori men’s team (coached by Boss Edmonds of Auckland), who play at 3pm tomorrow and 10am on Sunday.

“I’ve had a look at the turf and it’s beautiful,” Ripia said.

“I’m sure all the players and officials are looking forward to the games.”

Fifteenth year of competitionRipia said this was the 15th year the organisations had competed against each other since an event in Auckland in 2003.

“Each year the Queenslanders have a 10-day tour of New Zealand, playing age-group teams in Wellington, Palmerston North, Hawke’s Bay, Rotorua, Hamilton and Auckland.

“For the majority of those tours, Maori Hockey has hosted Queensland in Rotorua, with Hamilton or Tauranga also hosting them.

“Because of the relationship we have generated with them, they are more than happy to visit Gisborne this year.”

Ripia said the focus was on more than just hockey.

“Our visitors enjoy the cultural aspect of this exchange and are looking forward to the haka tomorrow night.

“We will whakatau (welcome) our guests on to a marae, share a hangi, including kapa haka entertainment and then whanaungatanga (relationship through shared experiences).

“Because they have never been to the hockey turf in Gisborne, and their being an international team, we will powhiri them on to the turf before the start of the first game.

“Following the last game on Sunday, there will be a presentation of trophies and a poroporoaki (farewell).”

Ripia, a former Poverty Bay and Hawke’s Bay softballer, got into hockey when he moved to Napier “about 18 years ago”.

“I was a prison warden back then and met Margaret Hiha, who was the chairwomen of the hockey association, and she asked me to help and I’ve been involved in hockey ever since,” said Ripia, who now works in Hamilton.