.png)
TE RUNANGANUI O NGATI POROU
Ngati Porou Rugby League and Ngati Porou Touch provide an update to Nati Link about some of their latest achievements on the sports-field.
E hika mā, tēnā koutou katoa.
Last year we had the privilege of having four rangatahi teams representing Ngāti Porou Rugby League in the under 15s and u17s Tama and Kōtiro sections at the National Aotearoa Māori Rugby League tournament. We had Keiana Roffey from our 17s Girls make the NZ Māori team and also won two taonga for best haka and overall haka in the Girls section. Our Wāhine Toa represented us for the first time at the tuakana tournament and our men won the Waka division beating Raukawa ki Waikato in the final. We had Te Rangi Fraser and Kouma Samson named in the NZ Māori team.
Our Men and Women teams also represented at the Koroneihana against Waikato Māori. Our Men won that fixture and brought home the Tonga Mahuta Shield. We look forward to returning to defend our title at the Koroneihana of the Kuīni this year. We also represented Ngāti Porou at the Māori Touch Nationals fielding three teams, Open Men’s, Open Mixed and 21 Mixed. Our rangatahi in the 21 mixed won overall beating Queensland Māori in the final.
Our kaupapa places a strong priority on cultural, spiritual, and holistic growth, drawing from and connecting to our Ngāti Poroutanga, which takes precedence over the Rugby League and Touch itself. Last year, we managed to reach over 200 uri of Ngāti Porou, along with their whānau, to be involved in our kaupapa.
We held wānanga at Pākirikiri Marae in Tokomaru Bay, the weekend before every tournament. This was a vital part of our kaupapa to reinforce that connection back home. Guided by our local mātanga, our people felt an even greater sense of pride and unity, drawing strength from our whakapapa, waiata, haka and tikanga as we represented Ngāti Porou on the national stage.
Building on the success of our previous campaign, we are excited to announce our upcoming events, where we will be representing Ngāti Porou at the Rangatahi national tournaments, at the Koroneihana to defend the shield, Māori Rugby League Tuakana Nationals and Aotearoa Māori Touch Nationals in Rotorua in December.
We are fielding seven rugby league teams this year: two Men’s, one Wāhine team and four Rangatahi teams as well as four touch teams: Open Men’s, Open Mixed, 21 mixed and Over 30s. This is over 250 Ngāti Porou Athletes who will have the opportunity to represent their iwi and express themselves on the national stage.
This would not be possible without the ongoing support from all our kaitautoko. Tēnei te ngākau iti e mihi atu nei. Ka mihi rā, ka mihi rā.
Nga mihi: Contributed by Te Ataakura Pewhairangi on behalf of Ngati Porou Rugby League Komiti Whakahaere.
NGATI POROU RUGBY LEAGUE & NGATI POROU TOUCH 2025 CALENDAR
Wānanga Dates
Tournament Dates
