The case for Maori participation

in the South Pacific Games

H. R. BROUGHTON* writes below bf a newly formed Maori sporting organisation which is seeking membership of the South Pacific Games Council so that New Zealand’s Maori athletes may participate in future South Pacific Games.

Noting that the aims of the South Pacific Games Council are to promote friendship among the peoples ‘of the South Pacific region’, the writer points out that the Maori people are ‘very much part of the South Pacific’.

The first South Pacific Games were held in Fiji in 1963 as a result of a proposal put forward at a meeting of the South Pacific Commission. The idea of the Games was that they would enable the coming together of peoples of the South Pacific. However, New Zea land, although a metropolitan member of the South Pacific Commission, did not feature in the Games and has not done so to date. It has been felt that New Zealand athletes would be too strong and would dominate all the sports contested at such Games. But no consideration has ever been given to the possibility of the Maori people representing New Zealand at the Games.

Since the first Games in Fiji similar Games have been staged in New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Papua New Guinea, and Guam, and more recently, again in Fiji.

The objects of the South Pacific Games Council (SPGC) arc (a) to create bonds of kindred friendship and brother hood amongst people of the countrics/lerritories of the South Pacific region without any distinction whatever (race, religion, politics, etc); (b) to promote amateur sports in these same countries/ territories: and (c) to ensure etficicnl propaganda in favour of sport amongst these people.

The above objects therefore would allow Maoris to lake part in the South Pacific Games, noting that the Maoris are very much part of the South Pacific.

New Zealand as a metropolitan member should suggest to the South Pacific community that Maoris be represented in the Games. The Maoris do not feature prominently in such

sporls as athletics, swimming, boxing, soccer, cricket, hockey, archery, and so on.

However, in Rugby Union, Rugby League, basketball, netball, lawn tennis and golf there is a strong involvement.

This is so, even though the national teams in these sports have not had a significant Maori membership, with one exception: men’s basketball, where there were four Maoris in the 1980 national team.

If the objects of the SPGC arc to be of value then at the very least consideration should be given to the New Zealand Maoris becoming members.

Politics should not be seen as a means of excluding the Maoris, but certainly the strength of a nation's competitors may have to be taken into account as it is at the moment.

Participation in the Games will provide an incentive for the Maoris to take part in all amateur sports in New Zealand both at club and provincial levels.

The charier of the SPGC defines membership as being ‘open to one duly recognised amateur sports organisation in each country/territory. Each country/territory desiring affiliation to the SPGC shall form an autonomous amateur sports organisation which may also function as a national Olympic committee . . .' The New Zealand governing body controlling amateur sports fea tured in the Commonwealth and Olympic Games is the New Zealand Olympic and Com monwealth Games Association (Inc) (NZO&CGA), with other codes having their own national committees for example, Rugby Union. There are very few Maoris who involve them selves in the administration of the national committees. This is certainly so with the NZO&CGA, and this fact may need some attention.

There has already been con

siderable interest expressed by the Maoris in taking part in the Games. This has been acknowl edged by both the New Zealand Maori Council and the Maori Women’s Welfare League.

Currently the views prevail ing in circles concerned with the various codes are being obtained, and it is expected that many questions will be asked in Maori circles as to why they should participate and so on.

In order to comply with the charter of the SPGC certain procedures are being undertaken so that both infor mal and formal approaches can be made to the SPGC. An interim committee was set up in the course of 1980 and has been meeting regularly to develop a national Maori sporting body.

This is now known as the New Zealand Maori Sports Feder ation, under the authority of the New Zealand Maori Council.

The federation is the organis ation that will be seeking mem bership of the SPGC, having fulfilled the necessary criteria as far as membership is con cerned. The constitution of the federation which is currently being prepared involves the importance of health and cul ture within the framework of its objects.

Whilst it would appear that the federation is a separate organisation it relies strongly on the support of the national sporting codes as well as the NZO&CGA and the New Zea land community.

In support of our application to the South Pacific Games the federation’s objects are stated as: (a) to promote in every way the interests of amateur sport amongst the Maoris in New Zealand. (b) to act as a communi cations organisation as a means of promoting participation of the Maoris in all sport. (c) to stimulate partici pation of Maori youth in ama-

Icur sport so as to achieve good health both in mind and body. (d) to educate public opinion as to the value of properly organised physical recreation in improving the knowledge of Maori culture. (c) to ensure that regular tournaments are held amongst participants so that appropriate selections can be made for other venues for example, regional and national meetings, the South Pacific Games, etc. (f) to liaise with national sporting codes on matters of mutual interest. (g) to uphold Maori tra ditions amongst all people of New Zealand in the world of international sport. (h) to foster greater sporting and cultural contact amongst the South Pacific community. (i) to encourage all New Zealanders to support the Maoris in involvement in such amateur sports at local, national and international levels. (j) to award trophies, certificates or medals as appro priate to recognise achieve ments made at any such fixtures.

It is important that we in form the member countries/ territories of the SPGC of our intention to become a member of the SPGC. This also means pointing out the current state of Maori involvement in sport to illustrate why in fact Maoris would benefit from such Games.

Letters are to be sent to member counlries/territories with a view to gaining support and advice toward membership in the Games. It is our hope that this article will serve as yet another valuable means of con veying our viewpoint.

The Island Games to be held in Solomon Islands in July 1981 may provide an opportunity for the NZ Maori Sports Feder ation to gain membership.

*Dr H. R. Broughton is chairman/convenor of the New Zealand Maori Sports Feder ation, under authority of the New Zealand Maori Council.