The New Zealand Māori Golf Association, New Zealand Golf, and New Zealand Open organisers lay a mauri stone to mark a seven-year partnership with Millbrook Resort in Queenstown.
Last weekend, Australian Ryan Peake won the 104th New Zealand Open after overcoming a four-shot deficit on the final day.
New Zealand Māori Golf Association pakeke Waihoroi Shortland says the mauri is installed to assert a Māori presence, not for ceremonial purposes.
“You know, from a Māori perspective, we were instilling a mauri that would hold the tournament here, from our perspective, forever in the day. Otherwise, the mauri doesn’t hold its purpose or no, you know, you can. You can take the mauri and put it somewhere else. But if you paid attention to the cultural significance, the mauri and the New Zealand Open would stay here,” says Shortland.
The mauri, named Te Hamo, honours the adze used by South Island demigod Tūterakiwhanoa to carve out the Fiordlands.
