The children at Kaikohe East School have really enjoyed playing Ki-o-Rahi. They have been competing at the primary schools event held at Kaikohe’s Lindvart Park for two years now and the staff thought it would be cool to use Ki-o-Rahi as a means to reconnect with whanau in the rohe.

After careful planning by Whaea Kelli and the staff at Kaikohe East School, the reality of a Matariki Celebration started to unfold. An invitation was extended to a neighbouring Energize school – Ohaeawai Primary to attend the event and commemorate Matariki. Sport Northland Energizer, Gina Harris spent Term 2 modelling Ki-o-Rahi sessions with students and teachers at both schools in preparation for the event.

In addition to the physical sessions, the children from both schools learnt the names of the stars and how each star represents the seven pou on the Ki-o-Rahi field. “The children from Kaikohe East School even learnt a new waiata, to remember the stars” says Harris.

To extend on the keen interest from the children to play this new game, a few student leaders were trained up to set the game up themselves, so they could play during their lunchbreaks. “It was great to see students using their initiative and showing leadership.  The teachers even set it up once they were confident too” explains Harris.  

Ki-o-Rahi was a new sport for Ohaeawai Primary, and they absolutely loved it! “It’s like a mix of rippa rugby, netball and soccer all in one” says Ohaeawai student Ty.

Kaikohe East School purchased their own Ki-o-Rahi kit so that Whaea Kelli could train the children up in their lunchbreaks to prepare for the event and to ensure they can continue to play beyond the event.

Leading up to the event, the school also prepared a healthy hangi in alignment with the Energize healthy eating messages. Chicken, beef, kumara and stuffing ingredients were purchased and Matua Boss prepared the hangi hole, hangi rocks and fire pit. At 7am on the morning of the event, the fire was lit, stones heated and hangi lowered into the ground.

Ohaeawai Primary School arrived for a powhiri, welcomed by three kaikaranga. A karakia timatanga opened the day, followed by mihi whakatau and waiata. “I was so proud to be part of this special day” says Harris. The formal part of the event was closed, when the staff and children enjoyed morning tea together before playing Ki-o-Rahi. 

“The display of skill from both schools was awesome. It was noticeable that their ability to play had improved substantially; they all played hard and with positive wairua. After all, the day was all about having fun with whanau. A lot of these tamariki knew one another and some were even cousins and it was great to see these ties being strengthened through sport. The wonderful hangi at the end of the day was a bonus” says Harris.

Whaea Kelli, Kaikohe East School had this to say “all tamariki picked the game up fast. Being such an inclusive game kids really enjoyed it, were engaged and so of course their skills improved heaps. The fact that you modified the game for our teina, means that when kids get to Year 5 and 6 level they will be super knowledgeable and not starting from square one. They loved the new strategies that we learnt”.