Cricket: Squad set for pioneering tour

Rotorua cricketer Rees Uerata is one of 11 players to be selected to tour Rarotonga in the Northern Districts' Maori squad later on this month. Photo / File

Rotorua cricketer Rees Uerata will be part of a Northern District Maori squad which will break new ground for Maori cricket when they tour Rarotonga later this month.

The squad will tour the tropical island on a maiden overseas campaign on September 21.

Captained by Waikato Valley skipper Leighton Parsons and managed by Northern Districts selector and operations manager Pat Malcon, the team will play a Cook Islands representative side in a series of Twenty20s matches under lights.

The week-long tour will help promote the development of Cook Islands Cricket - an ICC affiliate nation which is assisted by Northern Districts Cricket.

"It's going to be a highly meaningful visit for us, not only because of the close relationship between Northern Districts and Cook Islands Cricket but because of the significant historical links and cultural familiarity between Cook Islands Maori and New Zealand Maori," Northern Maori wicketkeeper and coach Graeme Stewart said.

"We will be playing just kilometres from the spot said to be the departure point for the fleet of waka that set off for Aotearoa."

That first team haka on Rarotongan soil will be very special to us as Maori."

Launched in 2011, Northern Maori will also play its traditional fixture against Waikato University this summer, with further matches and dates to be announced during the season.

Northern Districts chief executive Peter Roach said Northern Districts was proud of taking the national lead in growing Maori participation in cricket.

"It's an area that has historically been left to languish, but one we value in our region. We have significant Maori communities in Poverty Bay, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Northland and I have no doubt that there are talents waiting to be uncovered in those communities."

Roach said Northern Maori was conceived as an inspiring pathway for young Maori sportsmen and they were already seeing results in increased interest from the Maori sporting community.

Uerata is one of two Bay of Plenty cricketers selected in the squad of 11. The previous Northern Maori squads have sported no shortage of role models, including Black Caps Trent Boult, Daryl Tuffey, Peter McGlashan and SkyCity Northern Knights Jono Boult. Continuing its policy of giving opportunities to young Maori players, the team includes two players from Hamilton Boys' High, Danyn Stewart and Renay Meadows.

Squad:
Joshua Bates (Poverty Bay), Tapua Gudgeon (Hamilton), Renay Meadows (Hamilton), Leighton Parsons (Waikato Valley), Steven Rae (Bay of Plenty), Brook Simpson (Counties/Manukau), Shaun Simpson (Counties/Manukau) Danyn Stewart (Waikato Valley), Graeme Stewart (Waikato Valley), Kolyn Tai (Taranaki), Rees Uerata (Bay of Plenty).