Joining in, got the T shirt

Are you "Part of the Team" making Rotorua a great experience for locals, other Kiwis and international visitors during the Rugby World Cup? Well, now you can get a T-shirt to prove it.

Maori in Tourism Rotorua has been working with other organisations across the Bay of Plenty and South Waikato for the past eight months finding ways to get everybody in the region behind the event and to create opportunities for regional businesses.

Chairman Oscar Nathan said the aim was to create events everybody in the region could get behind, whether they were rugby fans or not.

"We wanted to provide regional businesses and Maori businesses with opportunities, while creating activities to bring the communities together to enjoy the tournament."

Activities resulting from this include The Real Tauranga Festival, the www.maori2011.com website and a T-shirt/hoodie designed by Waiariki Institute of Technology tutor Kereama Taepa, promoting pride in New Zealand and Rotorua with proceeds supporting the regional events.

Words for both the Maori and English verses of the national anthem are written on the front of the all black T-shirt in the shape of a hand across the wearer's heart.

"This was designed before our own Elizabeth Marvelly challenged everyone to understand both verses of our national anthem. But it fits perfectly and shows there are a few people out there thinking along these lines."

Across the back, the shirt declares the wearer to be "One of the Team" and Nathan said this worked on a number of levels - part of the team supporting the All Blacks or part of the team creating the tournament buzz on a national, regional or local level or even within a workplace.

There are currently two versions, one with the Kia Ora! Rotorua logo on the sleeve and one with The Real Tauranga.

Kia Ora! Rotorua was created as part of Maori in Tourism Rotorua's Kia Ora Campaign to make the greeting as internationally distinctive as Fiji's bula or Hawaii's aloha.

"People are starting to notice the Kia Ora! brand."

Nathan said feedback had been positive, with a number of businesses wanting to fit their staff out in the shirts for All Black match days. "The whole idea will be great if Rotorua people get behind it. This is a way of celebrating that the Rugby World Cup is here, but it does not have to stop at the end of the tournament."

Rotorua Museum, Seismic Gastrobar and Te Puia are among the outlets selling the shirts, and there are also plans to make them available online.

Any businesses or organisations interested in getting behind the "Part of the Team" message can contact Maori in Tourism Rotorua on info.mitr@xtra.co.nz

Are you playing your part?

Post Business is getting behind businesses and business organisations playing a role in creating a great Rugby World Cup atmosphere in Rotorua.

Whether it's a window display, a themed event or an initiative such as the "Part of the Team" T-shirt, send us a photo of what your team is doing to create a "stadium of 70,000" in Rotorua and the surrounding districts.

Include up to 200 words outlining who, what, where and when it all happened and once a week we will feature the best pictures and/or ideas.

Email these to business@dailypost.co.nz. We look forward to sharing what you are doing with our readers.