Sport Whanganui collaboration helps schools revive traditional Māori game pūkao

Sport Whanganui, Men’s Shed Whanganui and Waters & Farr have collaborated to bring the traditional Māori game pukao to 25 schools across the Whanganui, Rangitīkei and Ruapehu regions. Left from back, Waters & Farr's Derek Pickering, The men from Men’s Shed Whanganui and Sport Whanganui healthy active learning advisor Margot Bennetts. In front are Keith Street School students. Photo / Sport Whanganui

A collaborative effort from Whanganui organisations aims to revive a traditional Māori game to provide to 25 schools in the region.

Sport Whanganui, in collaboration with Men’s Shed Whanganui and plastic fabrication company Waters & Farr, set up the initiative after receiving feedback from a group of schools.

Teachers from the schools were inspired to introduce pūkao, a traditional Māori game that tells the story of the kūmara and its harvesting, after attending a workshop led by cultural advocate Harko Brown.

However, the game required a specialised taroaroa tall structure, which was hard to find, let alone supply to 25 schools across the Whanganui, Ruapehu and Rangitīkei.

The Men’s Club volunteered to design and build the taroaroa sets after Waters & Farr donated its high-quality materials.

Men’s Shed Whanganui designed and built the taroaroa sets with help from Waters & Farr. Photo / Sport Whanganui

Derek Pickering of Waters & Farr said the project fitted well with the organisation’s values.

“We’re a family-owned business and we’re part of the community so it seemed like a good initiative, both to support the Men’s Shed and also schools and students,” Pickering said.

Sport Wanganui healthy active learning lead Jen Bagshaw said the project’s benefits extend beyond the equipment itself because it gave students a hands-on connection to mātauranga Māori and created opportunities to engage with cultural knowledge in meaningful, active ways.

A teacher shared that their students were ecstatic to explore the equipment and learn how to play pūkao, Bagshaw said.

“Ultimately, the collaboration celebrates culture, community, and the strength that comes from working together,” she said.