Comment: Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of sharing, teaching, learning and, most importantly, playing Taonga Tākaro – traditional Māori games – with thousands of people across Aotearoa. From schools and marae to workplaces, festivals and community events, I’ve witnessed the extraordinary things that happen when people play.
I’ve watched tamariki teach kaumātua, grandparents learn alongside mokopuna, and complete strangers become teammates within minutes. In those moments, status fades, barriers soften, and everyone becomes both learner and teacher.
Those experiences have reinforced something that modern sport can sometimes forget: the greatest value of play isn’t found in winning, it is found in the relationships, connections and belonging it creates.
Today, many wāhine are helping carry this kaupapa forward through the revitalisation of Taonga Tākaro in schools, communities and across sport, recreation and play.
They are kaiako, coaches, researchers, caregivers, community leaders and whānau, and through organisations including Oi Sisters, Tātuu Roa and Tū Mātau Ora, they continue to help ensure these taonga remain living practices.
As Aotearoa celebrates Matariki, we’re invited to reflect on the past, celebrate the present and consider the legacy we’re creating for future generations. Across many iwi, Matariki is a time of renewal, gratitude and (re)connection. For many, it’s also a time to (re)connect with the knowledge, stories and teachings of those who came before us, reminding us that knowledge is meant to be lived, shared and passed on.
That is exactly what Taonga Tākaro has always done, bridging the past, present and future.
A kēmu is never just a game: It’s knowledge in motion
Traditionally, Taonga Tākaro formed part of Matariki celebrations in many communities. While games were played throughout the year, Matariki provided a special time to connect, learn and share through play.
Taonga Tākaro carries mātauranga, tikanga and pūrākau. Practices such as Whai, Tī Ringaringa, Mū Tōrere and Pōtaka develop coordination, creativity and strategic thinking while creating opportunities for everyone to participate and contribute.
This way of thinking is reflected in Matariki itself. Each whetū has its own significance, reminding us that no single star carries the whole story. Together, they show that strength is found in the unique contribution each one brings
The same wisdom appears throughout pūrākau. In the legend of Tinirau and Kae, it was not one person’s strength that brought about justice, but the collective intelligence, courage and unique abilities of wāhine working together. Each brought something different. Together, they achieved what no one could have accomplished alone.
For generations, wāhine Māori have carried that same spirit of leadership protecting language and land, nurturing whakapapa, upholding tikanga and creating spaces where learning flourishes. Much of this leadership has existed beyond formal titles, yet its impact has shaped whānau, communities and generations.
This isn’t simply about preserving traditional games. It’s about reclaiming ways of learning, leading and belonging that have always been part of who we are.
Ka mua, ka muri – walking backwards into the future
As conversations continue across Aotearoa about increasing participation and leadership opportunities for women and girls, Taonga Tākaro offers a different perspective.
Too often we ask how people can fit existing sporting systems. Taonga Tākaro instead asks how sport, recreation and play can strengthen people, relationships and communities.
I’ve witnessed this philosophy come to life wherever people are given the opportunity to play. Laughter replaces awkward introductions, and conversations begin naturally. Strangers from different cultures find themselves cheering each other on. Young people discover they have something worth teaching, while adults rediscover the joy of learning. When we play, titles give way to teamwork, and differences become opportunities to learn from one another.
In Taonga Tākaro, participation isn’t limited by age, gender or ability. Some contribute speed, others strategy, patience, humour or encouragement. Leadership isn’t always found in the loudest voice or the fastest player. Sometimes it’s the person who notices someone standing on the sidelines and invites them in. These are the qualities that strengthen people, teams and communities, not just sporting performance.
We are already seeing this happening today with Taonga Tākaro becoming part of the Halberg Games and wheelchair rugby teams embracing Kī o Rahi. Our traditional games continue to evolve while remaining true to one of their greatest purposes, strengthening people through connection, shared learning and play.
If we want sporting environments where more women and girls thrive, perhaps the question isn’t simply how we encourage them to fit existing models, but what those models might learn from Taonga Tākaro.
When we create space for diverse leadership, we strengthen sport. When we value different ways of participating and learning, we build a sporting system more closely connected to the communities we serve.
As we celebrate Matariki, we honour the knowledge gifted by our tīpuna and the wāhine, whānau and communities who continue to carry, share and revitalise these taonga across Aotearoa.
One day our mokopuna will tell stories about us, just as we tell stories about our tīpuna. Our legacy won’t be measured by the games we won or the titles we held, but by the people we helped grow, the relationships we strengthened and the knowledge we chose to carry forward.
As Matariki invites us to reflect on the past, celebrate the present and look towards the future, there’s one question worth asking ourselves: What kind of tīpuna do we want to be remembered as?
