Boosting Samoan culture via sport

Samoa’s legendary sporting passion is helping bring together Samoan residents across Nelson Tasman through a new kirikiti tournament that swung into action on Saturday.

Kirikiti is similar to cricket, with a distinctive Samoan spin.

The Nelson Tasman tournament, between teams from Motueka, Richmond and Stoke, and Ta¯hunanui Nelson, was played with traditional bats of hardwood brought over from Samoa, with team sizes limited only by how many people show up. Organiser Dan Hytongue, originally from Wellington, said the organisation Fa’alapotopotoga Tagata Samoa Nelson Tasman (FTSNT) was filling a gap in the community, as while there were wider Pasifika groups there had not been one focusing on Samoan diaspora in the area.

‘‘It is mainly to bring Samoans together – we have got a mix of RSE workers, people who have been here for years, and some who have just arrived,’’ he said.

‘‘In the bigger cities they are lucky, because of the church sizes – with a church of 300 people you could run this yourself – but in the smaller regional places we have to band together.’’

He said there were about eight church groups involved and he hoped the ongoing efforts of FTSNT would strengthen the local Samoan community, by providing a space where everyone could speak Samoan, play Samoan games, and where children could keep in touch with their Samoan roots and culture. ‘‘We want to make sure our Samoan culture is strong, then we can share with the wider community.’’

As well as the kirikiti, there was music and food to mark the occasion amid the anticipation of the upcoming historic Rugby League World Cup final early

‘‘It is mainly to bring Samoans together – we have got a mix of RSE workers, people who have been here for years, and some who have just arrived.’’

Dan Hytongue

yesterday. After the kirikiti match, the local Samoan community held a parade to celebrate the already legendary achievements of Toa Samoa, who came back from an initial loss of 60-6 against England to beat them 27-26 to make it into the final – the first Pasifika nation to make it into a World Cup final.

Hytongue said Samoans’ sporting spirit was legendary and he had high hopes for the ongoing kirikiti tournament to build community.

More information on FTSNT can be found at ftsnt.org or on its Facebook page.

PHOTOS: BRADEN FASTIER/STUFF Members of the Samoan community gather at Saxton Fields to play in the inaugural kirikiti tournament. Teams from Motueka, Nelson, Stoke and Richmond took part, and it is hoped more will follow.