Across Christchurch, there is growing awareness of the role that indigenous games can play in our young people’s wellbeing – while being a vehicle to raise awareness of Maori language and culture.

The team at Healthy Families Christchurch support this revival, given the ability of traditional games to engage students who may otherwise not play sport.

Huia Lambie works closely with Sport Canterbury’s Community Sport team, to understand the response to Ki O Rahi in schools, by teachers, coaches and students.

Huia's role working alongside a team of Community Sport Advisors is to help connect them to the wider community, introducing advocates for traditional games who share a vision:

More People, More Active, More Often

“Ki-o-Rahi serves a purpose much larger than just sport itself. There is a focus on hauora and more importantly connecting those who participate to māori culture. It is important that we see Rangatahi as future leaders and advocates for the games. They are the future. If we can empower them to play and lead the game then we are pretty safe to see Ngā Taonga Tākaro flourish in Aotearoa and be a significant part of New Zealand identity.”

Sport Canterbury has played a role over the past few years in helping introduce Ki O Rahi to Christchurch schools, and since then both primary and secondary schools have sought support from the Regional Sports Trust to train student coaches and deliver tournaments.

The goal of Healthy Families Christchurch is to identify leadership within the movement. Huia says they hope to take Ki O Rahi in Christchurch from something that students enjoy, to a movement that influences significant change with an outlook to changing lives.

“If students who previously had no interest in being active suddenly find a source of activity they identify with, with that comes confidence, social connections, emotional intelligence and resilience.

“Being active is never just about being fit. The impact for our young people’s mental health is equal to the physical benefits.

And our role at Healthy Families Christchurch is to communicate the opportunity – to help more schools see the potential, and to help local champions and advocates understand the important role they play.”

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