Maori games teach teamwork

A Maori games programme funded by ratepayers is being enthusiastically received by students at Stanmore Bay School.

All Year 3 and 4 classes at the school are doing the Kelly Sports Maori games programme this term. The Hibiscus & Bays Local Board granted Kelly Sports $5000 for the programme, so that it can be provided free of charge.

Sessions are run in school time and include an introduction, Te Reo, skill coaching, warm ups and the games themselves.

Jono Sergeant or Kelly Sports, who recently came on board to manage the programme, is facilitating the games at Stanmore Bay. He says as well as being fun, traditional Maori games teach teamwork – warm ups are based on the kinds of things that warriors would do as they prepared for battle. The sessions include a rippa version of Ki-o-Rahi and other ball games as well as poi, stick, hoop and hand action games.

Teacher Hesta Prentice says what the children learn is being incorporated into the classroom in various ways and the teachers are also learning the games so they can bring some into the curriculum after the course is over.