28 Jun Wāhine Tākaro Wānanga ki Ōtane

Kia kawea tātou e te hiringa tākaro, e te hiringa a Māui, e te hiringa a Taranga! Kia taurite, kia tina, kia ita! E ngā māreikura o Oi Collective, e mihi whakamaioha tēnei. Ko koutou tēnā e kōkiri, e tītoki, e whakatinanahia rawatia tēnei mea te mana o te wahine.

Sparked by Taranga – Mother of Māui, a profound catalyst of the kaupapa – a group of wāhine gathered at Te Aute College in Ōtane to take part in the Wāhine Tākaro Wānanga, hosted by the Oi Collective.

Toi Tangata kaimahi, Chelsea Cunningham-McLean and Chrissy Hiraani Hilton attended the wānanga and shared insights, thoughts, and possible initiatives as the Oi Collective sisters led the rōpū on a transformative journey to advance the research and co-design opportunities of wāhine perspectives on tākaro.

The wānanga centred on reclaiming, relearning, restoring, revitalising and reindigenising wāhine tākaro narratives and is a part of the ‘Kia Hianga’ Play vision for play across Aotearoa, developed by Ihi Aotearoa Sport NZ. Centered around Māui, his brothers, and mother, the play plan highlights our unique national identity and how it is reflected in our play and tākaro opportunities, while prompting us to reimagine and reinvigorate a bicultural future where mana ōrite and mana taurite are at the forefront for the past, present, and future generations.

The Oi Collective is led by Crystal Pekepo-Ratu, Nikki Penetito-Hemara and Rangimārie Mules.