After receiving late notice about an international ki-o-rahi tournament in Ireland, a leading exponent of the traditional Maori ball game has challenged Maori government to help him source funding in order to send a team to the Emerald Isle in July to represent New Zealand at the event.
Midway through February, Harko Brown - representing the national ki-o-rahi organisation, Ki-o-Rahi Akotanga Iho (KAI) which is based in the Bay of Islands - was delighted to have received an invitation from tournament organisers to enter a team in the inaugural Dave Gallaher Summer School in Ramelton, Co. Donegal.
In order to get a team together from New Zealand to travel to participate in the first ki-o-rahi tournament ever held in Ireland, Harko has been busily promoting the sport through schools, youth clubs and sporting organisations.
"Turns out our Irish hosts are also wanting our players and their youth carvers to produce a pou for a ki-o-rahi field they will designate so it really touches the heart that they are putting in so much effort."
Despite being unable to attend the event himself due to other obligations, Harko was still prepared to seek funding and sponsorship if there were enough players on the ground genuinely interested in attending the tournament as part of a mixed team to "tautoko [support]" the attempt to kick start ki-o-rahi in Ireland.
Noting the tournament will be played in the tihae [ripper] format, he believed Far North teams or players should still consider the invitation as an opportunity, particularly if putea [funding] can be raised; while those who could pay all or some of their own way would certainly help the dream become reality.
"Being Irish, they have of course set us a very good challenge at such short notice. It's a longshot but I feel our tupuna who bequeathed our precious taonga, ki-o-rahi, would like to be there in spirit through any of their whanaunga who can attend," said Harko, admitting a host of other variables were still to be factored into the overall equation including the invitation/ selection policy to form a New Zealand team to playing under the KAI banner. But first, Harko was looking at the various funding options available and was already in discussion with Pita Sharples.
"I hope the Minister of Maori Affairs and other Maori leaders step up to the plate for this or we will be left in the dust by overseas initiatives. Having such a short lead up is good in a way, it will show whether the Maori government leaders have the ability to mobilise for international ops.
"We [KAI] have self-funded three overseas tours representing traditional Maori games from our little neck of the woods, so let's see if our Maori leaders can do their bit this time as they do for waka ama and kapa haka."
More information on the competition kaupapa which Harko suggested was quite significant, can be viewed at www.gallahersummerschool.com.
The full invitation from tournament organiser Kevin Shields read as follows.
"Tena koe Harko, in July 2013 we are holding the inaugural Dave Gallagher Summer School in Ramelton, Co. Donegal, Ireland.
We formally invite Ki-o-Rahi Akotanga Iho to attend, to join with us in competing in the competition and promoting ki-o-rahi in Ireland. You can be assured of the warmest of Irish welcomes.
This is a sporting festival named in honour of Ireland's greatest export to New Zealand, the legendary Dave Gallaher who was born in Ramelton in 1873 and became the acknowledged 'founding father of All Blacks rugby'. NZRFU President Bryan 'BeeGee' Williams is the official ambassador for the project and it forms part of 'The Gathering', Ireland's 2013 tourism initiative.
There will be a strong New Zealand flavour to the five-day event. A ki-o-rahi tournament will be one of the primary features of the festival and we are seeking teams from New Zealand to travel to Ireland to participate. This will be the first ki-o-rahi tournament held in Ireland and we are busily promoting the sport through schools, youth clubs and sporting organisations.
Over here in Ireland we're delighted that you have taken such an interest in our tournament. We are novices but very enthusiastic and hoping for a successful event as part of our summer school!"