Teams of teenagers have faced off to decide who represents the region in the national finals of a fast-paced and increasingly popular sport.

Tai Wānaga Tū Toa hosted the Manawatū-Horowhenua secondary schools kī-o-rahi tournament at its Aokautere sports field for the second year in a row on Friday.

The Palmerston North Boys' and Girls' High Schools combined team triumphed over the 10 other teams, defeating Dannevirke High School in the final.

The two teams, and third-placed Waiopehu College, from Levin, have earned spots representing the region in the national championship in Northland next year.

Tū Toa school site leader Tipene Wahi said the traditional Māori sport was based on the legend of Rahitutakahina and the rescue of his wife Tiarakurapakewai.

Kī-o-rahi is a frenetic game of agility and strategy, played with a small ball, or kī, on a large circular field made up of three circular sections – te wairua, te roto and te ao.

Players score by touching the pau (poles), hitting the tupu (drum), or placing the the kī on the line of one of the three circles, depending on whether their team is playing kīoma or taniwha at the time.

The scoring system and areas reflect the obstacles and places Rahitutakahina had to get through to free his wife from the fairy people who kidnapped her.

Wahi said it was exciting to see a sport entwined with Māori culture and language taking off, with some districts getting up to 50 teams competing each year.

There was also a growing league in France, started by villages and towns introduced to the sport by the Māori Battalion during World War II, he said.

​Each year, the top Kiwi team challenges the best French team to a friendly match.

Tu Toa student Chris Salu, 17, said he picked up the game a few years ago, and he loved the teamwork and support at the heart of it.

"It's just a fun game... Everyone goes hard, but it's really chill."

Although the easiest way to describe kī-o-rahi was to compare it with rugby, Salu said the two sports were different.

"Rugby is more physical, and kī-o-rahi is more about your mind and strategy."

Article added: Monday 09 December 2019