Kaumatua Olympics a stunning success

By Frank Neill

Ōtaki hosted its first ever Kaumatua Olympics on 20 September and the event was a stunning success.

Organised by Ngā Hapū o Ōtaki, the Kaumatua Olympics saw 250 kaumatua descend on Ngā Purapura for the games.

Including supporters, around 300 people were at the event.

During the day teams of kaumatua from the lower North Island competed in a series of events.

The games they played included connect four, noodle hockey, nerf dartrs and hula hoop toss, among a variety of other carnival games suitable for kaumatua.

The overall Kaumatua Olympic champion team was Te Reureu Valley Whanau from Halcombe.

The winners came from the northern most part of Ngāti Raukawa settlements in this region.

The purpose of the day “was to bring kaumatua together so they can understand how valued they are in our communities and give them the oportunity to be together,” the event organiser Jalaine Tahiwi says.

“It’s really good to feel wanted and that’s the whole essence of us being here – to be valued.”

The event was so successful that another Kaumatua Olympics is already being planned for next year.

It will be organised by Ngati Toa Takapu Wahia Kumatua and will be held in Porirua at a date yet to be set.