February 13, 2023
Māori swell basketball ranks
A Māori basketball coaching legend is accusing the sport’s administrators of tokensim.
Jeff Green says Māori now dominate the game in Aotearoa in terms of player numbers, but they’re not getting the support they need, especially in poor communities.
It’s also now the number one secondary school sport – especially among Māori youth.
He says giving competitions Māori names isn’t the same as supporting Māori.
“Everyone wants to fund something Māori, or women’s sport. So these people go off and tailor everything toward women and Māori. Well, I just think that’s tokenism – me personally. It’s not a view that’s held widely. However, you know, you’ve got to keep fighting the fight,” he says.
Jeff Green says the recent national Māori basketball tournament in Rotorua drew 350 teams, and it could have been double if there were more venues.