October 24, 2017
Taranaki talent drawn from far flung regions
Kiwis selectors may need to look further afield for rugby league talent.
It was a Ngati Mutunga team from Wharekauri-Chatham Islands that took out the league nines competion at this weekend's Taranaki Tu Mai festival in Manaia.
Organising committee member Omahuru Robinson says more than 2000 people with affiliations to the eight iwi of Taranaki made the journey south of the mountain for the biannual celebration of sports, culture and whanaungatanga.
He says it's a chance to pass on some of the tribal knowledge and passion for te reo to younger members.
"By bringing them in early in the piece it creates that sustainability that is going to last for generations across our iwi right across Taranaki. There is a huge resurgence of younger Maori picking up te reo but also making sure it is protected in a way where we have our old people in support of that aspiration but also making sure we have our rangatahi involved in what the future looks like, so he kaupapa pai tenei," Mr Robinson says.
Ngati Maru will host the next Taranaki Tu Mai in 2019.
OMAHURU ROBINSON FULL INTERVIEW
Copyright © 2017, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com