Wāhine Māori urged to lead in sports administration

Gideon Porter Mere Rangihuna | Wāhine Māori urged to lead in sports administration

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A wāhine Māori with 30 years of Māori sports event organization and administration is pleading with former players and supporters to take up off-field roles.

Mere Rangihuna, a member of the Ngāwati sporting whānau of Te Tai Tokerau, says that while playing opportunities for wāhine Māori are exploding in sports like basketball, rugby union, sevens, and NRL rugby league, not enough are getting involved in off-field administration.

Rangihuna says it’s not just about playing sport, then retiring and disappearing.

“You know it is really important that they take on these administration roles. Because decisions are made for us around these Board tables, and so wāhine mā we need to get ourselves on these tables – hold space to be part of the decision-making,” says Rangihuna.

Mere Rangihuna says a great example is the Northern Kāhu basketball side, which features an all-women ownership, management, and team roster.

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