Wairarapa hosted the Georgian rugby team during the Rugby World Cup transforming the region in an array of red and white flags – events and festival activity. Kick-started at Te Ore Ore Marae, Georgia was welcomed from local iwi, Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāti Rangitane. Georgia “loved the day – advising that they too love children and food and that Kiwi’s were welcome to visit and enjoy the same great level of hospitality. Local business and communities pulled together and adopted “Georgia”. Wairarapa events included the hosting of players to a kiwi meal with local families, a sheep sharing experience, training & signing sessions finished off with a poroporoakī. It was a great time and experience, bringing communities together in a spectacular manner, says Kaiwhakarite, Dick Smith “a real culmination of iwi and community working well together.”