Māori touch is on top of the world after winning three of the five sections in the inaugural World Indigenous Touch Tournament 2008.

Māori touch teams took top honours in the Women’s, Mixed Open (A Grade) and Men’s Open (A Grade) sections. “The competition was fantastic and was of an extremely high standard. Our Māori teams had to work really hard,” says organiser Carol Ngawati.

Māori Touch NZ hosted the tournament at Parrs Park in Waitākere City, attracting teams from Samoa, Niue, Cook Islands, NZ Chinese, Pacific Unity and Japan.

The four-day tournament from 23 to 26 January started with a pōwhiri at Hoani Waititi marae. “As Māori and indigenous peoples we were committed by our guiding principles like whakawhanautanga, rangatahi and well-being,” says Carol.

Te Puni Kōkiri has been a major sponsor of the tournament and has supported Māori Touch NZ with hosting capacity and resourcing.

“We had fantastic support from Māori organisations like Te Puni Kōkiri and Te Hotumanawa Māori. Also, the Waitākere City Council’s support was amazing, from preparing the grounds to supplying resources,” says Carol.

It is envisaged that the Tournament will be held every two years.

RESULTS

WOMEN
Winner – Māori Open (4)
Runner-up – Māori Under 21 (1)

MIXED OPEN B GRADE
Winner – Cook Islands Open (7)
Runner-up – Cook Island Under 21 (5)

MIXED OPEN A GRADE
Winner – Māori Open (15)
Runner-up – Māori Under 21 (2)

MEN OPEN B GRADE
Winner – Cook Islands (12)
Runner-up – Samoa Under 21 (2)

MEN OPEN A GRADE
Winner – Māori (11)
Runner-up – Samoa (10)

TOURNAMENT TEAMS MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS

WOMEN
Janie Wihone – Māori
Faith Dickson – Māori
Teirea Te Aho – Māori Under 21
Kahurangi Watene – Māori

Under 21
Casey Smith – Niue
Benita Tukuitonga – Niue
Roxette Mura – Indigenous

Invitation
Sam Burton – Indigenous Invitation
Atawhai Tupaea – Cook Islands
Kendyl Te Rangi – Cook Islands

OPEN MIXED
Dean Williams – Māori
Teresa Te Tamaki – Māori
Reneii Tawhi – Cook Islands
Mat Takai – Cook Islands
Rima Strickland – Cook Islands

Under 21
Larissa Marurai – Cook Islands

Under 21
Donny Rihari – Samoa
Ashlyn Enosa – Samoa
Te Ao Marama Te Amo – Māori

Under 21
Wiremu Neho – Māori Under 21
Josilina Silimaka – Niue
Faga Tupuiliu – Niue
Dylan Hennessey – Pacific Unity
Elesha Dougal – Pacific Unity

OPEN MEN
Nuianderson Holamotu – Niue
Gary Reilly – Niue
Eteuati Togiatamou – Tonga
Bodene Rodgers – Tonga
Ruamai Erueti – Māori Mita Graham – Māori
Lee Rawiri – NZ Chinese
Craig Chin – NZ Chinese
Joshua Mana – Cook Islands
Kamrin Repia – Cook Islands
Maaloga Konelio – Samoa U21s
Pana Meleisia – Samoa U21s
Kimo Houltham – Māori 21s
Pomare Ormsby – Māori 21s