When the traditional instruments of Māori and Aboriginal cultures blended together across Ōhinemutu village at a pōhiri this morning, there was never any doubt how special the rugby league games in Rotorua this week would be.
It was held to welcome the NRL Māori and Indigenous All Star men’s and women’s teams ahead of Saturday’s games at Rotorua International Stadium.
It will be the first time the NRL matches, which select the best indigenous players from New Zealand and Australia, have been held off Australian soil. The event is being praised for giving Rotorua international sporting exposure.
After the Māori side was welcomed onto Te Papaiouru Marae with a whakatau, they joined local iwi including dignitaries and school groups to be part of the welcoming party for the Indigenous All Stars.
As Māori warriors performed the wero [challenge], the visitors slowly walked towards Tamatekapua Meeting House.
Image 1 of 17: Pohiri for NZ Maori and Australian Indigenous All Stars rugby league team at Te Papaiouru Marae at Ohinemutu in Rotorua. Photo / Andrew Warner
A resounding haka bellowed across the village, including the unmistakable sound of the taonga pūoro [Māori trumpet] as the Indigenous All Stars side walked towards their hosts backed by the sound of the didgeridoo, played by Australian Brock Tutt.
Both sides, some dressed in traditional costumes, were welcomed with speeches and songs.
Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell said during her welcome address that while the focus was on sport this week, Rotorua - with its strong Māori population and reputation as being the first bilingual city of New Zealand - remembered the journey indigenous cultures had come on.
“Some of our elders wept as you walked onto our sacred marae today. As indigenous people, we share many things - dance, songs, the arts - but we also share the history of dealing with colonisation. And the tears you saw this morning are the tears of acknowledgement and of hurt that we know your people have also been through.”
She said, from the youngest indigenous culture to the oldest indigenous culture in the world: “We greet you, we see you, we hear you and we feel you. Welcome to Rotorua.”
Australian league pioneer Katrina Fanning, who also spoke as part of the welcome, became overwhelmed with emotion when she explained the significance of the timing of the All Stars games.
She had to take a moment to compose herself before saying it had nothing to do with pre-season training - it instead marked the timing of the national apology, which was made to the Aboriginal people for policies that had blighted their people.
She said there were 250 languages among Indigenous Australian people, and that made it hard to converse as one as Māori do.
She turned to the schoolchildren present and commented how she had heard in Rotorua, many children were “allowed and able” to learn their own language in schools.
“It makes me a little sad that we don’t have much of that at home, but to see how that makes you thrive and how strong that makes you is wonderful.”
Rugby league legend Sonny Bill Williams joined the Indigenous side for the pōhiri, given his role this year working for Australia’s Channel 9 doing pre-game coverage.
”It’s the first time on the other side of the fence for the media,” he told the Rotorua Daily Post.
He said he knew from experience Saturday’s game was no “friendly” match on the field, and some players had pulled out ahead of the NRL season to ensure their match fitness wasn’t impacted.
“There is a fear of injury and they are just not ready, so it shows the impact of this game we play.”
Having the game played in New Zealand meant a lot, he said.
“For me, as a proud New Zealander, it is an honour to see the game I love so much being played in New Zealand, and in a special place like Rotorua.”
He said he had spent a bit of time in Rotorua while playing for the Chiefs and living in Hamilton.
“Liam Messam is from here and he’s a good friend of mine, so we spent a bit of time here.”
Part of Channel 9′s coverage will be showing how special Rotorua was - so, he said, he would be showcasing the special sights around the city.
“And I hope to get to the hot pools myself while I’m here.”
As the players and dignitaries mixed and mingled at the end of the welcome, they enjoyed performances by Rotorua Primary School, Te Rangihakahaka Centre for Science and Technology, John Paul College, Rotorua Girls’ High School, Rotorua Boys’ High School and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Koutu.
Chamber of Commerce chief executive Bryce Heard told the Rotorua Daily Post after the welcome it was fantastic exposure for Rotorua as an international tourist destination.
He said he knew from accommodation reports the hotels and motels were full and had been for several weeks.
“They’ve been having a good run, but this is going to give it a big boost. Bring it on.”
RotoruaNZ chief executive Andrew Wilson said the NRL Indigenous All Stars tournament would provide an “enormous boost” for the city’s reputation and brand.
“It will put us under the spotlight in Australia, one of our largest and most important international markets.
“Events like these are also significant for the visitor economy, bringing a large number of visitors to our city with positive flow-on effects for our accommodation, hospitality and retail businesses as out-of-town visitors come to Rotorua.”
A motorbike overtook a car and hit a pedestrian on Edmund Rd.