Te Wiki Hākinakina o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori (Wiki Hā) is a biennial event uniting kura kaupapa students nationwide to celebrate the blending of sport and te reo Māori. With $10,000 in funding from Trust Tairāwhiti and immense community support, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Waiu o Ngāti Porou (Te Waiu) made an impressive mark at Wiki Hā 2024.
Tauira (students) embraced their culture through an exciting mix of touch rugby, netball, volleyball and traditional Māori sports. Games like Kī-o-Rahi and Hopu Te Ariki came alive as tauira learned the stories and values behind them, fostering a deeper connection to te ao Māori and a strong sense of belonging. These sports also provided a platform for tauira to use te reo Māori in action, boosting their te reo tākaro (sports vocabulary) in practical, meaningful ways while honouring cultural traditions.
“Seeing our students thriving in te reo Māori outside the classroom was incredible. They weren’t just speaking te reo Māori – they were living it,” said kaiwhakahaere hākinakina (sports coordinator) Marama Beach.
Although one of the smallest kura attending, Te Waiu achieved remarkable results, placing first in Senior Kī-o-Rahi, first in Junior Touch and third in Junior Kī-o-Rahi, reflecting months of dedication and training.
“Winning was amazing. It showed us that even though we’re a small school from a small place, we can achieve big things,” said student Parearau Rogers-Brooking.
The Ruatoria community raised over $40,000 through raffles and other activities, ensuring all students could attend without financial worry. This effort highlighted the community's strength and commitment to supporting local tamariki and, with funding from the Trust, made the event accessible to all.
“He mea nui te tautoko o te iwi ki a mātou – it was amazing to see our community come together to support us,” said Parearau.
For many students, Wiki Hā was their first opportunity to visit the South Island, offering fresh perspectives and fostering personal growth. Competing on the national stage brought a surge of confidence as they represented their kura and iwi. The friendships they built with other kura kaupapa students enhanced their cultural pride, celebrating their shared heritage.
“They came home with new friends and a deeper appreciation for being Ngāti Porou,” said tumuaki (principal) Tania Hunter.
Wiki Hā left a lasting impact. “Watching tauira embrace their culture through sports was beautiful. It’s a connection they’ll carry forever,” said Tania.
“This journey has shown our tauira they can achieve anything.”