The Selwyn Sports Trust is stoked to have delivered our first Kī-o-rahi festival today for Y5,6,7 & 8 tamariki! 17 teams and 240+ young people connecting and enjoying the mahi!  

Kī-o-rahi has been going from strength-to-strength at the Selwyn Sports Trust through the passion of Taonga Tākaro Activator, Jacob Ahuriri-Budgen, who delivers leadership and support to all the Selwyn Kura in the area of Taonga Tākaro/Māori-based games.

"It's very cool to see this kaupapa come to life over the last couple of years.  Every school term we see more and more tamariki connecting with Taonga Tākaro, and Kī-o-rahi in particular, which is awesome"  Commented Ahuriri-Budgen.

"This kaupapa is also supported by teachers and sport leads in each Kuru, and with this support you can see how the tamariki get really engaged and want to participate"  

"It's also great to see so many young wāhine playing today.  The format was structured so that there are four wāhine in the team of eight, and there are so many talented young people out there today"

A massive thanks to all Kura who attended and also Tihirangi Brightwell (Ūpoko Te Reo Māori, Kaiārahi Pukenga Māori o te Kāhui Ako, me te Kaiārahi o Waihora Whānui) and his team from Lincoln High School for refereeing!  Special thanks to CORDE for preparing all the fields... you guys are awesome! 

The 2023 participating schools - West Melton School, West Rolleston Primary School, Knights Stream School, Nga Puna Tapuwai - Ladbrooks School, Ararira Springs Primary & Rolleston Christian School

Article added: Thursday 30 November 2023