More than hockey
Ruamata: It's More Than Hockey
(the first documentary ever to be entirely in Te Reo Māori) was a remarkable story of pride, passion, and determination capturing the journey of Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Ruamata's rise to the upper echelons of hockey in Aotearoa, as they became the first Māori immersion school in a century to compete in the prestigious Rankin Cup.
It was the subject of an RNZ online series and was nominated for Best Documentary Series and won Best Māori Programme at the New Zealand TV Awards.
Ruamata Series Two is back, and this season it's definitely more than hockey. The hockey players are taking their skills and language further afield to South Africa.
Ruamata 2 is released at
5pm
on Monday on www.rnz.co.nz
Series Producer Kereama Wright talks to Mihi.
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RNZ News
16 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Dazzling aurora scenes delight as strong displays seen from many places
Photographers braved the cold on Sunday night to capture colourful aurora images, with a bright active display visible even from some places in the North Island. Photo: Supplied/ Grant Birley If you missed out on the aurora light show that lit up southern lights on Sunday night, you might have another chance, as night falls on King's Birthday Monday. Aurora Australis, the colourful natural phenomenon also called the southern lights, put on a strong display visible in the night sky across many parts of New Zealand on Sunday night, prompting photographers to set up their tripods during the largely cloudless but cold night, to capture the lights. Astronomer and Otago Museum director, Dr Ian Griffin, told RNZ the spectacular display was unusual as it was seen further north than usual. "Last night's clear skies across the country gave everybody a really good chance to see what I think is one of the greatest shows on earth." "Normally, displays like this you can see most easily from southern New Zealand, but my understanding is a lot of people in the North Island last night got a good show, too," Griffin said. Aurora is the result of material being ejected from the sun toward Earth entering our atmosphere, where it reacts with particles at the Earth's geomagnetic poles. This creates the eerie glowing lights that can be seen in the sky. Aurora fans are hopeful the show might still be visible after dark on King's Birthday Monday, too. Griffin said this latest burst of aurora appeared after a strong explosion on the sun: "It was quite a strong explosion that threw a whole bunch of material towards the earth." "Fingers crossed it might persist until darkness tonight [Monday], and we might get another evening as well." Aurora are best seen using cameras lenses that are more sensitive than our eyes, but sometimes - like last night - are strong enough to be seen with the naked eye too. Griffin advised those hoping to get a glimpse of the lights to go to a dark spot, away from manmade lights and towns, with a good view of the stars. He said New Zealanders were seeing more auroras than normal at the moment. "We're quite a long way from the really active area of the aurora," Griffin said. "And it's only at times near solar maximum that we get these displays like we had last night, when they were overhead." Grant Birley took these photos of the aurora, from Lake Ellesmere, on Sunday night. Photo: Supplied/ Grant Birley And the prospects for King's Birthday Monday were looking hopeful. Forecasters at the US government's Space Weather Prediction Centre [ said that between 3pm and 6pm NZT on Monday global magnetic conditions - referred to as Kp - could reach as high was nearly 8Kp, and could remain above 6Kp until midnight NZT (midday UTC). At levels of 6Kp and above, aurora move much further across the globe than just the North and South Poles where they are more usually confined to, and can "become quite bright and active", the agency said . At 8Kp, that intensifies and even more bright, and more places may be able to see them: "These are the events that create the best aurora and the extended auroral oval will be observable by the most people," they said. Conditions are promising for auroras for the next six to 12 months, Dr Griffin said, because the sun's magnetic activity is in the most active phase of its 11-year cycle. A group with a bonfire are captured at Wainuiomata coast, on Sunday night, in front of the aurora. Photo: Supplied/ Dan Bailey Winter offers advantages for aurora spotters because the night is dark for longer. But New Zealand has a good geographic position when it comes to aurora spotting, and it gives us good opportunities through the rest of the year too, Griffin said. "One of the coolest thing about New Zealand is it's pretty much the only place in the world where you can watch an aurora in the middle of summer, wearing shorts and jandals." Australia & New Zealand are getting some nice aurora right now, here's the view from Queenstown, NZ! We are currently at G2 storm level (we did hit Hp30=8 earlier). Solar wind speed is currently very high (900+ km/s), but Bt and Bz are not very favourable. We are still in the… On Sunday night some Australian aurora fans also got a glimpse of the lights, which are rarely spotted across the ditch. ABC reported spotters as far north as Tamworth north of Sydney, in New South Wales had seen the lights. Photographers usually use special astrophotography settings on their cameras to capture aurora, but Sunday's display was also visible to the naked eye, and would have looked closer to this. Photo: Supplied/ Dan Bailey Cressida Toorenburg told the ABC she had seen the natural light show from East Devonport, in Tasmania, after the clouds cleared away. "We sat for half an hour in the hope that the clouds would move away and then wow," she said. "There was Lady Aurora! It was breathtaking - you could see her with the naked eye, but much bigger and brighter through the screen on my phone." Toorenburg said she has lived in the area for seven years and never seen an aurora as dazzling. "The colours were so beautiful and vibrant," she said. From Lake Ellesmere on Sunday. Photo: Supplied/ Grant Birley - RNZ/ ABC Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
2 hours ago
- Scoop
Top New Zealand Rower Arrested In The US Following Post-Regatta Incident
Rowing NZ has launched an investigation into a recent tour to the United States, after a top New Zealand rower was arrested for assault following an incident at a post-regatta celebration. RNZ has learned Zack Rumble, a member of the New Zealand men's elite team, missed his flight home from the US tour as he was in police custody following his arrest on suspicion of assault on 3 May. The national team, made up of a men's and women's eight crew, had been in Seattle for the prestigious Windermere Cup. According to records with Washington State's Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD), Rumble was held for 45 hours in the King County Correctional Facility in Seattle before being released without charge on 5 May. It is understood the alleged assault occurred at a private event at the Seattle Yacht Club, in which the New Zealand team were invited guests. A source with knowledge of the incident, who did not want to be identified, said the fracas occurred after an evening of drinking. The DAJD records indicate Rumble was arrested at 11.58pm - nearly 12 hours after the prize-giving festivities kicked off. The source said they believed the arrest was a result of a "misunderstanding with police, in a country where you really don't want to have misunderstandings with police". Another New Zealand athlete was said to have been present at the time of the incident, but was not involved. Rowing NZ chief executive Simon Wickham declined to be interviewed, but in a statement confirmed an incident had occurred on the tour involving a member of the men's eight, which meant "that athlete was not able to return home with the remainder of the team". "Rowing New Zealand made sure that athlete had our full support in the United States and their welfare was our first priority at the time. We had one of our Rowing NZ coaching team remain on the ground in Seattle to support the athlete concerned," Wickham said. "This was a distressing time for the athlete and our team members and Rowing NZ has worked hard to make sure the athletes and coaches in our care have the support around them they need." Wickham added Rowing NZ has engaged prominent sports lawyer Don Mackinnon to lead an independent review of the tour to "seek learnings and recommendations". But the national body's handling of the episode is reportedly causing division among the athletes in the Rowing NZ's elite squad. Sources have told RNZ some athletes are uneasy about being swept up in a broad, team-wide probe due to the actions of an individual, while others are concerned about the impact the incident will have on the team's upcoming World Cup and World Championship campaign. It is understood Rumble, who had been selected for the upcoming World Cup events in Italy and Switzerland, resumed training with the team shortly after returning to New Zealand. Asked whether the athlete would still be travelling to Europe in light of the events of earlier this month, Rowing NZ said the team announced on 21 March will attend the next World Cup event in Varese, Italy. Rowing NZ insists its approach has been measured and appropriate. "We have responded proactively with an independent review," said Wickham. "It would be premature to comment on any outcomes or actions until that review has concluded." Commodore of the Seattle Yacht Club, Randy Holbrook, declined to comment on the 3 May incident "to maintain the integrity" of Rowing's NZ's review process. However Holbrook said the New Zealand coaching staff displayed "exemplary professionalism in working with us". "We recognise New Zealand as one of the world's top rowing programmes and we'd be honoured to welcome them back to our Club on any future trips to the US Pacific Northwest." The Windermere Cup is an annual rowing event held as part of the Seattle Yacht Club's opening day of the boating season. Aimed at showcasing the might of the University of Washington's rowing programme, each year the college invites international teams to contest the trophy. This year Rowing NZ were invited to send a women's and men's eights crew to the regatta. The New Zealand men finished second behind the Washington crew, which included three oarsmen from New Zealand: Ben Shortt, Harry Fitzpatrick and Olympic silver medallist Logan Ullrich. In response to written questions, a spokesperson for the University of Washington said the organisation "would not have any comment on this". High Performance Sport NZ, which provides $6 million in annual funding to Rowing NZ's elite programmes, are understood to have been briefed on the incident and are being kept updated on the review. RNZ has attempted to contact Rumble without success.
RNZ News
4 hours ago
- RNZ News
Pasifika recipients say King's Birthday honours not theirs alone
Mele Ikiua with four of her five children. L-R: Eunique Ikiua, Kaira-Jo Talagi-Ikiua, Topui Jnr Talagi-Ikiua, Ms Ikiua, Hannah Edwards-Ikiua Photo: Supplied A New Zealand-born Niuean educator says being recognised in the King's Birthday honours list reflects the importance of connecting young tagata Niue in Aotearoa to their roots. Mele Ikiua, who hails from the village of Hakupu Atua in Niue, has been named a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to vagahau Niue language and education. She told RNZ Pacific the most significant achievement in her career to date had been the promotion of vagahau Niue in the NCEA system. The change in 2023 enabled vagahau Niue learners to earn literacy credits in the subject, and receive recognition beyond "achieved" in the NCEA system. That, Ikiua said, was about continuing to increase learning opportunities for young Niue people in Aotearoa. "Because if you look at it, the work that we do - and I say 'we' because there's a lot of people other than myself - we're here to try and maintain, and try and hold onto, our language because they say our language is very, very endangered." "The bigger picture for young Niue learners who haven't connected, or haven't been able to learn about their vagahau or where they come from [is that] it's a safe place for them to come and learn… There's no judgement, and they learn the basic foundations before they can delve deeper." Her work and advocacy for Niuean culture and vagahau Niue has also extended beyond the formal education system. Niuean community in Auckland: Mele Ikiua with Derrick Manuela Jackson (left) and her brother Ron Viviani (right). Photo: Supplied Since 2014, Ikiua had been the co-ordinator of the Niue stage at Polyfest, a role she took up after being involved in the festival as a tutor. She also established Three Star Nation, a network which provides leadership, educational and cultural programmes for young people. Last year, Ikiua also set up the Tokiofa Arts Academy, the world's first Niue Performing Arts Academy. And in February this year, Three Star Nation held Hologa Niue - the first ever Niuean arts and culture festival in Auckland. She said being recognised in the King's Birthday honours list was a shared achievement. "This award is not only mine. It belongs to the family. It belongs to the village. And my colleagues have been amazing too. It's for us all." She is one of several Pasifika honoured in this weekend's list. Read more: Others include long-serving Auckland councillor and former National MP Anae Arthur Anae ; Air Rarotonga chief executive officer and owner Ewan Francis Smith ; Okesene Galo; Ngatepaeru Marsters and Viliami Teumohenga. Cook Islander, Berry Rangi has been awarded a King's Service Medal for services to the community, particularly Pacific peoples. Berry Rangi has been awarded a King's Service Medal for services to the community, particularly Pacific peoples. Photo: Berry Rangi She has been instrumental in lifting the coverage rates of breast and cervical screening for Pacific women in Hawke's Bay. "When you grow up in the islands, you're not for yourself - you're for everybody," she said. "You're for the village, for your island." She said when she moved to Napier there were very few Pasifika in the city - there were more in Hastings, the nearby city to the south. "I did things because I knew there was a need for our people, and I'd just go out and do it without having to be asked." Berry Rangi also co-founded Tiare Ahuriri, the Napier branch of the national Pacific women's organisation, PACIFICA. She has been a Meals on Wheels volunteer with the Red Cross in Napier since 1990 and has been recognised for her 34 years of service in this role. She also contributes to maintaining the heritage craft of tivaevae (quilting) by delivering workshops to people of all ages and communities across Hawke's Bay. Another honours recipient is Uili Galo, who has been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the Tokelau community. Galo, of the Tokelau Aotearoa Leaders Council, said it is very gratifying to see his community's efforts acknolwedged at the highest level. "I've got a lot of people behind me, my elders that I need to acknowledge and thank... my kainga," he said. "While the award has been given against my name, it's them that have been doing all the hard work." He said his community came to Aotearoa in the 1970s. "Right through they've been trying to capture their culture and who they are as a people. But obviously as new generations are born here, they assimilate into the pa'alangi world, and somehow lose a sense of who they are. "A lot of our youth are not quite sure who they are. They know obviously the pa'alangi world they live in, but the challenge of them is to know their identity, that's really important." Two sporting recipients named as Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the King's Birthday Honours say the honour is for all those who have worked with them. Pauline-Jean Henrietta Luyten, with Eroni Clarke of the Pasifika Rugby Advisory group. Photo: Supplied Pauline-Jean Henrietta Luyten, who is of Tongan heritage, has been involved with rugby at different levels over the years, and is currently a co-chair of New Zealand Rugby's Pacific Advisory Group. Annie Burma TeinaTangata Esita Scoon, of Cook Islands heritage, has been involved with softball since she played the sport in school years ago. While they have been 'committed' to their sports loves, their contribution to the different Pasifika communities they serve is being recognised. Luyten told RNZ Pacific she was humbled and shocked that people took the time to actually put a nomination through. "You know, all the work we do, it's in service of all of our communities and our families, and you don't really look for recognition," she said. "The family, the community, everyone who have worked with me and encouraged me they all deserve this recognition." Luyten, who has links in Ha'apai, Tonga, said she has loved being involved in rugby, starting off as a junior player and went through the school competition. After moving down to Timaru, she was involved with community and provincial rugby, before she got pulled into New Zealand Rugby Pacific Advisory Group. Luyten made New Zealand rugby history as the first woman of Pacific Island descent to be appointed to a provincial union board in 2019. She was a board member of the South Canterbury Rugby Football Union and played fullback at Timaru Girls' High School back in 1997, when rugby competition was first introduced . Her mother Ailine was one of the first Tongan women to take up residence in Timaru. That was back in the early 1970s. As well as a law degree at Otago University Luyten completed a Bachelor of Science in 2005 and then went on to complete post-graduate studies in sports medicine in 2009. Pauline-Jean Henrietta Luyten with Sina Latu of the Tonga Society in South Canterbury. Photo: Supplied She is also a founding member of the Tongan Society South Canterbury which was established in 2016. On her rugby involvement, she said the game provides opportunities for Pasifika families and she is happy to be contributing as an administrator. "Where I know I can contribute has been in that non-playing space and sort of understanding the rugby system, because it's so big, so complex and kind of challenging." Fighting the stereotypes that "Pasifika can't be directors" has been a major one. "Some people think there's not enough of us out there. But for me, I'm like, nah we've got people," she stated. "We've got heaps of people all over the show that can actually step into these roles. "They may be experienced in different sectors, like the health sector, social sector, financial, but maybe haven't quite crossed hard enough into the rugby space. So I feel it's my duty to to do everything I can to create those spaces for our kids, for the future." Earlier this month the group registered the New Zealand Pasifika Rugby Council, which moved a motion, with the support of some local unions, that Pasifika be given two votes within New Zealand Rugby. "So this was an opportunity too for us to actually be fully embedded into the New Zealand Rugby system. "But unfortunately, the magic number was 61.3 [percent] and we literally got 61, so it was 0.3 percent less voting, and that was disappointing." Luyten said she and the Pacific advisory team will keep working and fighting to get what they have set their mind on. For Scoon, the acknowledgement was recognition of everyone else who are behind the scenes, doing the work. Annie Scoon, of Cook Islands heritage, has been involved with softball since she played the sport in school years ago. Photo: Supplied She said the award was for the Pasifika people in her community in the Palmerston North area. "To me what stands out is that our Pasifika people will be recognized that they've had a voice out there," she said. "So, it's for them really; it's not me, it's them. They get the recognition that's due to them. I love my Pacific people down here." Scoon is a name well known among the Palmerston North Pasifika and softball communities. The 78-year-old has played, officiated, coached and now administers the game of softball. She was born in the Cook Islands and moved with her family to New Zealand in 1948. Her first involvement with softball was in school, as a nine-year-old in Auckland. Then she helped her children as a coach. "And then that sort of lead on to learning how to score the game, then coaching the game, yes, and then to just being an administrator of the game," she said. "I've gone through softball - I've been the chief scorer at national tournaments, I've selected at tournaments, and it's been good because I'd like to think that what I taught my children is a passion for the game, because a lot of them are still involved." A car accident years ago has left her wheelchair-bound. She has also competed as at the Paraplegic Games where she said she proved that "although disabled, there were things that we could do if you just manipulate your body a wee bit and try and think it may not pan out as much as possible, but it does work". "All you need to do is just try get out there, but also encourage other people to come out." She has kept passing on her softball knowledge to school children. In her community work, Scoon said she just keeps encouraging people to keep working on what they want to achieve and not to shy away from speaking their mind. "I told everybody that they set a goal and work on achieving that goal," she said. "And also encouraged alot of them to not be shy and don't back off if you want something." She said one of the challenging experiences, in working with the Pasifika community, is the belief by some that they may not be good enough. Her advice to many is to learn what they can and try to improve, so that they can get better in life. "I wasn't born like this," she said, referring to her disability. "You pick out what suits you but because our island people - we're very shy people and we're proud. We're very proud people. Rather than make a fuss, we'd rather step back. "They shouldn't and they need to stand up and they want to be recognized."
