Ki-o-rahi
Encyclopedia
Ki-o-rahi is a ball sport played in New Zealand
with a small round ball called a 'ki'. The game is widely known in Māori communities and in scattered mainstream locations throughout the country. It is a fast-paced sport
incorporating skills similar to Australian Rules, rugby union
, netball
and touch
. Two teams of seven players play on a circular field divided into zones, and score points by touching the 'pou' (boundary markers) and hitting a central 'tupu' or target.
In 2005 Ki-o-rahi was chosen to represent New Zealand by global fast-food chain McDonald's
as part of its 'Passport to Play' programme to teach physical play activities in 31,000 American schools.
The programme will give instruction in 15 ethnic games to seven million primary school children.
The New Zealand Ki-o-rahi representative organisation, Ki-o-Rahi Akotanga Iho, formed with men's and women's national teams, completed a 14 match tour of Europe in September and October 2010. The men's team included 22-test All Black veteran Wayne Shelford
who led the team to a 57-10 test win against Ki-o-Rahi Dieppe Organisation, the French Ki-o-Rahi federation. Shelfords ki-o-rahi test jersey made him the first Ki-o-rahi / Rugby double international for NZ. The women's team also won by 33-0. These were the first historic test matches between NZ and France.
, Dr. Patu Hohepa, a noted Māori academic, was quoted as saying "We cannot track it in the traditional Maori world... at this present time it is a mystery." Nonetheless he found the idea (that this was a traditional game) "fabulously exciting". According to Henry Anderson, kaiwhakahaere (Māori sport co-ordinator) for Sport Northland, ki-o-rahi is a traditional Māori game that has been 'handed down over the centuries'. Harko Brown, a physical education teacher at Kerikeri High School, who was taught the game in the late 1970s on his marae
in the south Waikato
, described it as 'an indigenous game imbued with tikanga Māori with a very long history ... of a pre-European nature." References to the ancient forms of the game can be found in his book 'Nga Taonga Takaro' . It is not clear when the term 'ki-o-rahi' originated as a collective term for ancient ball games played around a tupu.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
with a small round ball called a 'ki'. The game is widely known in Māori communities and in scattered mainstream locations throughout the country. It is a fast-paced sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
incorporating skills similar to Australian Rules, rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, netball
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
and touch
Touch football (rugby league)
Touch is a field sport also known as Touch Football, or in some countries as Touch Rugby. Touch is overseen worldwide by the Federation of International Touch . Touch has traditionally been played in Australia and New Zealand but the sport has expanded internationally and features many regional and...
. Two teams of seven players play on a circular field divided into zones, and score points by touching the 'pou' (boundary markers) and hitting a central 'tupu' or target.
In 2005 Ki-o-rahi was chosen to represent New Zealand by global fast-food chain McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
as part of its 'Passport to Play' programme to teach physical play activities in 31,000 American schools.
The programme will give instruction in 15 ethnic games to seven million primary school children.
The New Zealand Ki-o-rahi representative organisation, Ki-o-Rahi Akotanga Iho, formed with men's and women's national teams, completed a 14 match tour of Europe in September and October 2010. The men's team included 22-test All Black veteran Wayne Shelford
Wayne Shelford
Wayne Thomas "Buck" Shelford is a New Zealand former rugby union footballer and coach who represented and captained New Zealand in the late 1980s...
who led the team to a 57-10 test win against Ki-o-Rahi Dieppe Organisation, the French Ki-o-Rahi federation. Shelfords ki-o-rahi test jersey made him the first Ki-o-rahi / Rugby double international for NZ. The women's team also won by 33-0. These were the first historic test matches between NZ and France.
Origins
Although former chief executive of the Māori Language CommissionMaori Language Commission
New Zealand's Māori Language Commission is an autonomous crown entity set up under the Māori Language Act 1987 with the following functions:...
, Dr. Patu Hohepa, a noted Māori academic, was quoted as saying "We cannot track it in the traditional Maori world... at this present time it is a mystery." Nonetheless he found the idea (that this was a traditional game) "fabulously exciting". According to Henry Anderson, kaiwhakahaere (Māori sport co-ordinator) for Sport Northland, ki-o-rahi is a traditional Māori game that has been 'handed down over the centuries'. Harko Brown, a physical education teacher at Kerikeri High School, who was taught the game in the late 1970s on his marae
Marae
A marae malae , malae , is a communal or sacred place which serves religious and social purposes in Polynesian societies...
in the south Waikato
Waikato
The Waikato Region is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand. It covers the Waikato, Hauraki, Coromandel Peninsula, the northern King Country, much of the Taupo District, and parts of Rotorua District...
, described it as 'an indigenous game imbued with tikanga Māori with a very long history ... of a pre-European nature." References to the ancient forms of the game can be found in his book 'Nga Taonga Takaro' . It is not clear when the term 'ki-o-rahi' originated as a collective term for ancient ball games played around a tupu.