Sport NZ Ihi Aotearoa Partners With Te Whare Tū Taua O Aotearoa

Sport NZ Ihi Aotearoa (Sport NZ) and Te Whare Tū Taua o Aotearoa have announced a partnership which will see the international school of Māori weaponry receive funding from the Te Ihi Fund to deliver its training curriculum nationally over the next three years.

The Te Ihi Fund is one of four initiatives under Sport NZ’s Kaupapa Māori Response Plan, which was created in response to COVID-19 and its resulting impacts on Māori.

The purpose of the fund is to increase Māori participation by partnering with Māori organisations who are implementing culturally distinctive pathways for whānau, hapū, iwi, Māori to engage with. Te Whare Tū Taua o Aotearoa is the first Māori organisation to receive investment through the Te Ihi Fund.

Sport NZ Chief Executive Raelene Castle says it’s an important first step that shows how the fund will help Sport NZ build new partnerships with Māori, as well as strengthening existing relationships.

“We are honoured to partner with Te Whare Tū Taua o Aotearoa and support the national delivery of their important kaupapa. This is enabling Māori to participate in physical activity that is for and by Māori, which we believe will improve wellbeing outcomes.”

“Sport NZ recognises the significance of a Crown agency and Māori aligning and supporting each other’s aspirations for advancing Māori wellbeing. This is a proud moment for our organisations,” says Raelene Castle.

Te Whare Tū Taua o Aotearoa was founded by Dr Pita Sharples in 1983, due to the renaissance of Te Reo Māori and tikanga. It offers the ancient art of mau rākau back to Māoridom as an innovative programme in physical fitness, Māori history, Māori atua, whakapapa, confidence, leadership skills, self-discipline, respect and all uses of the taiaha.

Te Whare Tū Taua o Aotearoa Chairperson, Rīhari Daymond, says the partnership between Te Whare Tū Taua o Aotearoa and Sport NZ is a great honour because of the opportunity to support whānau Māori around the country.

"Sport NZ will help us to host seminars and we will support Sport NZ by providing them with a Māori perspective for their work, for the betterment of our people. Protecting these treasures handed to us by our elders for generations to come is our focus moving forward".

Sport NZ Toihautū, Moana-Lee Raihania, says the partnership is exciting, and there are many positive outcomes that will result from the relationship for both organisations.

“We are humbled that Te Whare Tū Taua o Aotearoa has signed an agreement with us that will benefit Te Ao Māori. It took us a few years to build trust and reach this point and now it’s time to “mahia te mahi” and put the agreement into action and continue to deepen the relationship toward a Te Tiriti-led partnership.”

Te Whare Tū Taua o Aotearoa is a learning school where the art of mau rākau and taiaha has been preserved and taught for over 1,000 years, a taonga that has been passed down from tupuna Māori (Māori ancestors) for future generations to do the same.

At present there are approximately 2,000 members throughout Aotearoa, both men and women, from all tribes and throughout the world. All members are welcome to join the many branches throughout Aotearoa and also London, Australia, Hawai’i and now Abu Dabi.

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