Te Arawa Games a success despite the rain

Nearly a month of battling it out in everything from speed scrabble to rock lifting culminated yesterdayas the Te Arawa Games wrapped up for another year.

While the weather was less than ideal, teams still took part in a range of activities at Horohoro including volleyball and the ancestral games.

They included Amora Ao'fai (Rock Lifting), Maihoa Ra'au (Weighted Rock Run), and Kumea Taura (Power Pulling).

The only event to be affected by the weather was the spear throwing, which had to be cancelled due to health and safety concerns.

At the end of the day Te Koutu Marae was named the overall Te Arawa Games 2018 winner, having participated in every event and with "papawhatanga points through the roof".

Te Papa Takaro o Te Arawa and Ngati Kea Ngati Tuara hosted the annual event, which ran from March 7 to 24.

Over the course of the event, the Te Arawa Games covered everything from speed scrabble and tangata tic tac toe, to bombing competitions and waka battles.

Every year thousands of Te Arawa descendants take part in the games.

Event co-ordinator Canaan Tuhura said more than 200 people were at Saturday's event, with about 1100 taking part over the course of the whole event.

"We were really pleased with the turn out, especially considering the rain. We had people coming up to us at the end of the day saying how much they had enjoyed it.

"For me what has been really cool is seeing the intergenerational participation. We've had our youngest playing tamariki games right up to our elderly playing cards in the whare."

This year was the first time the event was spread out over more than one weekend.

"The change in the layout to the event went so well that we are considering doing it this way again. Having a few events in the weeks leading up to the big weekend has been well received.

"We also introduced new games like ten pin bowling, speed scrabble and mini golf because these are things everyone can participate in."

Tuhura said there was already more than one marae vying for the next hosting rights of the games.