How Te Tai Tokerau are managing Kī o Rahi through Covid restrictions

This Friday 11th September 2020 will see Te Tai Tokerau Secondary School Ki o Rahi Regionals go ahead amidst all this uncertainty around Covid and the restrictions that level 2 brings.

How are they managing to do so and how can this help inform our other whānau around the country in running their tournaments? We caught up with April Rawiri and KC Maaka to get a better insight.

April Rawiri, He Oranga Poutama Lead in the North tells us that there was an overwhelming response from Kura wanting to ensure the tournament was held. “Leela Hauraki, who is the event organiser, hosted a zui to tatū whether we cancel or haere tonu.” “Then the logistics of hosting an event during Level 2 were worked through with kura and other whānau involved to ensure everyone’s safety is catered for.”

“We restricted entries to 8 teams, these being the top 8 from our Division 1 grade from the 2019 qualifying event or the first registered teams on the waiting list if any of the top 8 did not wish to participate.”

“A few other key things we have had to do is change venue from a public open space to an area where we are able to manage and limit the numbers under 100 as well as maintain safe distance, and then the other Level 2 requirements such as sign in/out processes and allowing time between games to sanitise all equipment etc.”

KC Maaka of the Ngāti Hine Trust and Okaihau College Coach adds that “teams are only allowed to bring 10 players, this helps restrict numbers and keep under the 100, finding a park that was fenced off which we could restrict access to people trying to get in was also important.”

“This is a good insight for us as we do not know what restrictions, if any could be in place come 2021 National Secondary School Kī o Rahi Nationals.”

The teams registered for Friday’s tournament are as follows:

1.Okaihau College

2.TKKM O Kaikohe

3.TKKM O Taumarere

4. Bay of Islands College

5. Kerikeri High School

6. Northland College

7. Dargaville High School

8. Te Kura Taumata o Panguru

Good luck to all teams, and too much to the organisers and school leaders!