New functional fitness competition to celebrate Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori in Kerikeri

A new kaupapa celebrating te reo Māori through korikori tinana will be held in Kerikeri next month, encouraging the use of te reo Māori in everyday spaces where whānau are already showing up.

Te Matakahuki is a functional fitness competition offering a new space for whānau to learn and experience te reo Māori together.

Developed by Healthy Families Far North in partnership with Sport Northland, Ngāti Rēhia, and The Mana Method gym, the competition will run workouts named in te reo Māori, follow movement standards drawn from atua Māori, and share local pūrākau throughout the day.

The competition will be held on the final day of Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori.

Healthy Families Far North Māori Systems Innovator, Takoha Ropati, said the kaupapa is about celebrating te reo Māori as part of a wider understanding of hauora.

"When we think of hauora, it isn't just about how healthy our physical body is, but it's also the language we speak, the places we belong to, the stories and people we're connected to. That's what Te Matakahuki represents,” he said.

“There's a big drive around reo rua at the moment. Reo revitalisation matters, and there are little pockets of it happening all over Kerikeri. This event is about complementing that exposure by inviting more whānau to give te reo Māori a go in a fun and interactive way.”

The competition will run in three divisions: Tamariki (8–12 years), Tauhou (beginners), and Tauwaenga (intermediate). Adult teams will be made up of four people, with two wāhine and two tāne. Every team will compete under an ingoa Māori and is encouraged to kōrero Māori throughout the day.

Sport Northland Pou Aronui, Paora Simon, has helped shape the movement standards and workout design.

The framework, originally built to prepare kaihaka for the stage, is grounded in Atuatanga and adapted here for the competition.

"Mātauranga and reo is the essence of the kaupapa,” he said.

"We want the WODs to carry meaning beyond the physical, to connect participants to atua Māori, to pūrākau, and to a way of moving that acknowledges where our people come from.”

On the day, whānau can expect a vibrant atmosphere. Reo Māori music, kai stalls, spot prizes, and plenty of encouragement – a celebration first, competition second.

Ngāti Rēhia chairman, Kipa Munro, said the competition sits well alongside the Te Rauora strategy.

"This is exactly the kind of kaupapa we want to see happening in our rohe. Te Rauora is about our people being well in every part of their lives, and finding new ways to keep te reo Māori alive is a big part of that,” he said.

“Anything that celebrates our reo, we support and should encourage.”

Asked if he'd sign up himself, Munro quipped that everyone would need a karakia if that happened. Instead, he offered a line that captures the heart of the kaupapa.

“Kia koi te tinana, kia koi te hinengaro, kia koi te reo.”

Registrations open next week (via Healthy Families website and Facebook page) and will close once spots are filled.

The competition takes place on Sunday 20 September at The Mana Method gym in Kerikeri.

Team entry: $200 per team of four ($50 per person).

For more information, email Takoha Ropati at takoha.ropati@whaingaroa.iwi.nz

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