Rangatahi play Kī ō Rahi at Lancaster Park in Christchurch on Tuesday. Photo: RNZ/Pokere Paewai
One of the biggest events on the Māori school calendar is on now in Ōtautahi/Christchurch.
More than 1500 students from 44 kura kaupapa across the country are taking part in Te Wiki Hākinakina o ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori or 'Wiki Hā' a biennial sports event which signals the end of the school year.
Merita Waitoa-Paki, who is tumuaki (principal) of host kura TKKM o Whakapūmau i te Reo Tūturu ki Waitaha, said the most important part of Wiki Hā was to hear te reo spoken as far and wide as possible.
"Kia rongo it te reo Māori e horapa haere ana, e whiu ana ki ngā tōpito katoa, ko te noho kia mau tonu i ngā mātāpono o Te Aho Matua, ko te whakatairanga i tō tātau kaupapa ātaahua ki te katoa."
"To hear the language being disseminated, being used in all situations, to hold on to the principles of Te Aho Matua, to raise up our kaupapa for all to see [those are most important things]."
Merita Waitoa-Paki Photo: RNZ/Pokere Paewai
This year is the first time the Wiki Hā has been held in Te Waipounamu since its establishment in 2002.
Waitoa-Paki thanked all the kura who made the long journey down to Christchurch.
"Ahakoa tokoiti o mātau he iwi noho tahi, titiro ki ngā rau ringa i kōnei kia oti pai te mahi, ana ko te mahi te manaaki i ngā manuhiri tūarangi kua tae mai."
"Even though we are a small community here in Christchurch we stick together, look at all the people who have turned out to make sure everything gets done and to look after all the visitors."
Te Tai Tonga MP Tākuta Ferris was in attendance on Wednesday, he said hosting Wiki Hā was huge for Christchurch.
"Te hapori kāre anō pea kia tino kite pēnei rawa te nui o te iwi Māori taiohi nei e hui tahi ana, ka kite atu i tōna ātaahua me te mea anō hoki ka whai wāhi nui to ohanga o te hapori nei i te taetae mai o te iwi katoa."
"This community might not have not have ever seen this many young Māori in the same place, they'll see how beautiful it is and the local economy will get a boost from all these people."
Rangatahi play Kī ō Rahi at Lancaster Park in Christchurch on Tuesday December 10 2024. Photo: RNZ / Pokere Paewai
The sports
This year rangatahi are competing in six different sports, including mainstays like netball, volleyball and touch rugby.
On Wednesday the name of the game was Ki ō Rahi, a fast-paced ball in hand game where teams take turns as the kia oma (attack) and taniwha (defence).
As Wiki Hā is conducted totally in te reo - students can be docked points if they are caught speaking in English.
Te Kaea was one of the team of referees keeping everyone in line on Wednesday.
"Ko tā mātau hāmene he tuku piro ki tērā atu tīma engari ki te kaha rongo i taua reo Pākehā e rere haere ana ka tukua i ā rātau ki te taha ka whai i tētahi kaitākoro hou."
"If they speak English we give a point over to the other team, but if we keep hearing it we send them to the sidelines and they have to bring in a new player."
It was a difficult job but they had a good team of volunteers doing the mahi, she said.
Te Kaea one of the Kī ō rahi referees. Photo: RNZ/Pokere Paewai
Another traditional sport played during Wiki Hā is Hopu i te Ariki, two teams face off in a game based on the use of traditional Māori weaponry.
A new addition to the sporting line-up this year is Parakiore a crossfit based competition which takes its name from a toa (warrior) of local hapū Ngāi Tūāhuriri.
Whakawhanaungatanga
Wiki hā extends beyond the sporting field and a big part of that is whakawhanaungatanga, the process of establishing and building relationships.
It is a chance for tauira to come together and foster relationships on and off the field and between different schools.
On Thursday there is also a hīkoi - Toitū Te Aho Matua - planned through central Christchurch, following on from the mass hīkoi last month.
Te Wiki Hākinakina o ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori 2024 officially comes to an end on Thursday night with a Pō Kanikani or dance night.