The Koru Games are a sports event for Year 7 & 8 students at South Island schools!

The games are held at a number of locations across Canterbury - sports at the Koru Games include Badminton, Basketball, Boccia, Football, Hockey, Ki o Rahi, Lawn Bowls, Netball, Rugby Sevens, Squash, Table Tennis, Tennis, Touch, Ultimate Frisbee and Volleyball.

The Koru Games began on Tuesday the 17th of September and finished on Thursday the 19th of September 2019. This year over 2000 students took part in the Koru Games.

The Koru Games Kī-o-Rahi competition was held over the 3 days at Lincoln University, with 20 teams entering. This was hosted by Ara Institute of Canterbury in partnership with Selwyn Sports Trust and co-ordinated by Ara Jason Tiatia (Ara) and Michael Wilson (Selwyn).

Jason Tiatia says “The day allows us to create more participation for all tamariki and from all schools and another creates another avenue to embrace Māori traditional games using the story, language and tikanga and how it can be embedded.”

The tournament started with pool play, followed by semi-finals and finals. Lawrence Tau from Sport Canterbury also added that students from the local high schools volunteered their time as referees, this was of such value to the tournament, a big thank you goes out to the students from Lincoln High, Hillmorton High and Te Kura Whakapumau.

The tournament was played with 6 students on the field, with a minimum of two female students on the field at all times. Female students score double points. Also the touch version, popular in the Waitaha region was the preferred playing style.

Top 4 teams from the tournament were Lincoln, Queenspark, West Rolleston and West Melton.

Jason Tiatia added that “The tournament was amazing. Running the Kiorahi sport for the first time last year in 2018 with only 10 teams and this year we had 20 teams.” “We had some amazing individuals but equalling some teams that showcased the values of the day and game and how it should be played. There were teams that clearly came prepared to do really well and some were there to continue to learn.”

“Each day started with a short & warm welcome. Blessed by our kura kaupapa māori – Whakapumau students blessed us with a karakia. Everyone played with great sportsmanship and fair competitive effort but more importantly team spirit. 20 teams got narrowed down to the championship rounds and the TOP 8 got down to semi finals.”

“In one semi there was a draw and our rules are there should be shoot off (taniwha style) 1 goalie vs 1 shooter and 3 from each side. Final was Queenspark School vs Lincoln A where Lincoln showed great courage to compete against the dominate Queenspark school where they didn’t concede many points in the tournament against them. Queenspark had a very balanced team with athletic individuals to the skillful and precise team combinations.”

Queenspark ended up playing West Rolleston in the final - winning 23 points to 7.

Jason Tiatia concluded that “It is very exciting how the coming years will evolve. We will review and may look at capping the number of teams or set up an all girls and all boys competition. We had fantastic feedback from parents to teachers. Many parents commented on how their child had never really engaged in mainstream sports but loves Kiorahi because of its inclusiveness and uniqueness connected to Aotearoa.”

For more information and photos check out the Koru Games Facebook Page.

Results - 2019 Koru Games