Teams to look out for - 2019 NZ Secondary School Ki o Rahi Nationals (Finale)
This year we look at the Top 8 teams from 2018’s New Zealand Secondary School Ki o Rahi Nationals.
In our finale we look at:
TE KURA MAORI O NGA TAPUWAE
2018 NZ Secondary School K o Rahi Nationals - Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae
Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae is a small Kura ā Iwi with close to 300 students from Year 1 - 13 located in Māngere, South Auckland. The whānau has a significant and reciprocal relationship with mana whenua and the Kīngitanga. They are committed to maintaining the rights and responsibilities of local iwi. (ERO, Education Review Office)
Ko Puketapapa me Te Ara Pueru ngā maunga
Ko te Manukanuka a Hoturoa te moana
Ko Puukaki, ko Makaurau, ko Te Puea ngā marae
Ko Te Waiohua , Te Akitai, ko Te Ahiwaru, Te Kawerau a Maki ngā hapū,
Ko Waikato te iwi.
2018 NZ Secondary School K o Rahi Nationals - Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae
Last year, Ngā Tapuwae started Day 1 in Pool A alongside Ngā Puna o Waiorea (Western Springs), Rotorua Boys and Girls, Uawa (Tolaga Bay Area School) and Te Kuiti High School, with Taupo-nui-ā-tia College not making the event.
2018 NZ Secondary School K o Rahi Nationals - Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae
On Day 1, Ngā Tapuwae went through unbeaten with wins against Waiorea 20 - 8, Rotorua Boys & Girls 19 - 13, Uawa 25 - 7 and Te Kuiti 17 - 9. After 5 games they had only 37 point scored against them, bearing in mind that this was with one less game then the other pools but it does go to show how they are quite good at limiting points scored against them. Winning this Pool meant that they would face 2nd from Pool D who were Mana College on Day 2.
2018 NZ Secondary School K o Rahi Nationals - Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae
In the quarter finals on Day 2, Mana were strong against the 2017 champions however they too couldn’t score many tupu manawa (tries) against the Ngā Tapuwae defence and Ngā Tapuwae progressed to the semi-finals against Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Horouta Wānanga.
2018 NZ Secondary School K o Rahi Nationals - Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae
Ngā Tapuwae were impressive in this match especially with their taniwha shooting and ki oma, they limited the ability for Horouta to score points and took advantage of a few holes on defence, for the second year in a row Ngā Tapuwae progressed to the grand final to play Te Wharekura o Rākaumangamanga.
2018 NZ Secondary School K o Rahi Nationals - Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae
The final was a close encounter with the Rākaumanga shooters getting most of their points for their team as they couldn’t score too many tupu manawa (tries) against the Ngā Tapuwae defence. Ngā Tapuwae scored a few more tupu manawa (tries) and had some good shooting from their boys. The kaitiaki from Ngā Tapuwae also prevented any tupu wairua (points on the tupu) from being scored in the final quarter and after a close encounter Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae became the 2018 New Zealand Secondary School National champions for the second year running.
2018 NZ Secondary School K o Rahi Nationals - Te Kura Māori o Ngā Tapuwae
That brings us to the end of our previews of teams to watch out for at Nationals 2019 and we’re about a month away from the NZ Secondary School Ki o Rahi National tournament.
No doubt there will be many other schools to prepare for, do not think you need to just focus on the 8 that we have previewed, there are many other teams with plenty of experience at Nationals just waiting for the chance to climb the ladder. Who will be crowned 2019 NZ Ki o Rahi National champions?
Don’t forget registrations are due in this week!
For all the awesome photos from Ki o Rahi Nationals 2018 please head along to the Tairāwhiti Ki o Rahi page HERE.