June 05, 2018
Vision for Maori Touch creates healthy code
MARIA NGAWATI INTERVIEW TE REO MAORI
A co-founder of Maori Touch says she’s proud of the way it has made a difference to so many lives.
Carol Ngawati was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to sport, education and Maori.
She and her late husband Gerard founded Maori Touch 20 years ago because they wanted an alternative to the amount of alcohol sponsorship around the new code.
It became safe environment for rangatahi and a space for Maori to be well, and it also has had an influence on mainstream touch rugby.
"People didn’t have a forum for haka and those tikanga things and so I know now right across all levels of the game being Maori is being valued. You’ve got pa wars that have touch that has the same kaupapa – auahi kore and alcohol free. So we’re really happy that it continues," Ms Ngawati says.
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