#hakinakina Rugby & the National Sporting Landscape: 2025 – a year of highs, lows, and renewed kaupapa for Māori in sport

As 2025 draws to a close, the national sporting year has been described as inconsistent – “a little bit messy”, said commentators – but it’s also been a year of resilience, rebuilding and potential across codes.

The ups and downs of the year bear lessons for Māori sport: that success isn’t just about the scoreboard, but about commitment, identity, community support and long-term pathways – values deeply embedded in tikanga Māori.

For our rangatahi Māori across rugby, netball, cricket and other codes, 2025 showed that even when the wins are mixed, the opportunity remains to grow – to train, to lead, to represent, and to connect sport with whakapapa and whānau aspirations.

Keep an eye out for our 2025 Sports Wrap

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