Ki-o-rahi Information
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[1]. It is a fast-paced sport incorporating skills similar to Australian Rules, rugby union, netball and touch[1]. 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.[1][2]
Ki-o-rahi has been 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.[2]
Origins
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' [3]. It is not clear when the term 'ki-o-rahi' originated as a collective for ancient ball games played around a tupu. Former chief executive of the Māori Language Commission, 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".[2]
References
- ^ a b c Shane Gilchrist, 'Game on, the "ki" is back in court', Otago Daily Times, 5 October 2007
- ^ a b c Jones 2005
- ^ Nga Taonga Takaro: Maori Sports & Games by Harko Brown
- Jones, Renee (October 8, 2005). "McDonald's adopts obscure Maori ball game". New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10349245. Retrieved 2007-07-30.
- "McDonald's Passport to Play Kicks Off in 31,000 Schools". McDonald's Electronic Press Kit. http://www.mcdepk.com/passporttoplay/. Retrieved 2007-07-30.
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