New Stucture for Maori Rugby

Maori rugby, one of the strengths of the New Zealand game, has a new structure within the New Zealand Rugby Football Union. A new Board, called Whakapumautanga or “Legacy To The Future”, now overseas the development of Maori rugby. The Board has already met three times, though the regulations governing it were not ratified until the NZRFU’s annual general meeting in Wellington last Friday. The inaugural Board is chaired by NZRFU Board Maori representative Tom Mulligan and has two members each from the Northern (Te Hiki o Te Ika), Central (Te Tiini a Maui) and Southern (Te Waipounamu) Regional Maori Boards, plus two independent members. As well as Mr Mulligan they are Trevor Albert, Ron Peters (Northern), Whetu Tipiwai, Peter Madden (Central), Alan Haua, Charlie Timoko (Southern), Prof Graham Smith and Geoff Milner (independent). Mr Mulligan said Maori rugby had been in existence since at least 1888 when a New Zealand “Native” team was formed and the new structure gave it more autonomy. “This is not a separate rugby organisation but one that will have more of an overview of the Maori game,” Mr Mulligan said. “The aim is to recognise the unique role Maori rugby plays in New Zealand and to continue to foster this. Whakapumautanga will still have Maori rugby as part of the NZRFU. But we will progressively be moving Maori rugby away from dependence to a relationship of interdependence.” He said it was important that the qualities of Maori rugby were not lost with the growth of the game. “The values of tikanga, whanau, or family, community, friendship and enjoyment are elements of the Maori game that we must preserve. They are part of the soul of rugby and what makes us all New Zealanders.” Under Whakapumautanga there would be a more strategic overview of regional Maori tournaments and development of the game, including women, Maori rugby scholarships through the adidas Institute of Rugby and probably more games for the New Zealand Maori team. “When the New Zealand Maori team assembles in future it will be more than training and a game. They will be involved in community activities, involving marae and Kohanga Reo, that relates the team to iwi and hapu. “All of these players are great role models for young Maori.” For further information please contact Brad Tattersfield at the NZRFU: Tel: +64 4 499 4995 Fax: +64 4 499 4224 Website: http://www.nzrugby.co.nz