Tour raises profile of Maori cricket

TOURING SQUAD: Rees Uerata, second on the right in the front row, with the Northern Districts Maori cricket team during their tour of Rarotonga.PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Rotorua's Rees Uerata has returned from the Cook Islands after touring with the Northern Districts Maori cricket team, something he says was a "powerful experience".

The Northern Districts Maori squad returned earlier this week from Rarotonga after playing six T20 matches against the Cook Islands men's and women's national sides.

It was the first tour of the Cook Islands for the squad, who helped raise the profile of T20 cricket on the island.

Uerata, the only squad member from Rotorua, helped his side win all their games during the tour.

"I played pretty well I thought. I batted four times," he said.

"We played all night games at the BCI Stadium, with all games played under lights."

He said one game did not end until 12.45am local time.

Uerata scored seven, 24, 26no, and 19no with the bat but was less than impressed with his own bowling performance.

Uerata said his favourite part of the trip was going for a tour around the island.

"The strongest influence for me was when we got shown around the island and saw where our ancestors left all those years ago, the same bay and area," he said.

"We also did a haka there so that was a powerful experience."

He said as part of the build-up to each cricket match they sung the national anthem and performed a haka.

The idea behind the Northern Districts Maori squad was to give young players in the region a sporting pathway, he said.

"For young Maori players coming through, [this team] opens another channel to promote Maori sport within New Zealand, because there are a lot of talented players out there.

"Particularly for Maori players and it gives them another chance to shine on a bigger stage."

Uerata plays his local club cricket for Central Cricket Club, captaining the reserve side last season.