Wa¯hine to get space in the sun

Ma¯ori women and girls will now have a starring role in sport, thanks to a new multi-year deal between Women in Sport Aotearoa/Nga¯ Wa¯hine Ha¯kinakina o Aotearoa (Wispa) and Ma¯ ori Women’s Development Inc (MWDI).

The new partnership, which was announced at Wispa’s Women in Sport captains’ lunch at Eden Park in Auckland yesterday, focuses on boosting engagement of wa¯hine Ma¯ ori of all ages in play, active recreation and sport.

It provides pathways into sport business and journalism through mentorships and scholarships, and supports young wa¯ hine Ma¯ ori into positions of influence in play, active recreation and sport.

Research from Sport NZ found that while young Ma¯ ori participate in sport more than their Pa¯keha¯ counterparts, participation rates drop off in adulthood.

President of the Ma¯ ori Women’s Welfare League and MWDI trustee Prue Kapua (Nga¯ ti Whakaue, Nga¯ ti Kahungunu) said Ma¯ori ‘‘absolutely’’ had poorer health outcomes but this initiative would help change that. Ma¯ ori were more likely to die prematurely from avoidable diseases or injuries and, on average, Ma¯ ori die seven years earlier than non-Ma¯ ori. Sport was also more than physical health, she said.

The partnership was about removing barriers Ma¯ ori faced by ‘‘prioritising’’ wa¯ hine in sport.

‘‘We will be building … programming that identifies and supports Ma¯ ori women, and to move that up the agenda and have it at the forefront is important to us,’’ Kapua said. ‘‘Sport is important … for your own self-confidence. It is important as a stepping stone for a lot of people into other areas. If you have the confidence in sport and ability to contribute that way, actually you are probably pretty fearless in taking on a lot of other things.’’

Former Black Fern and politician and Women in Sport Aotearoa founding member Louisa Wall (Nga¯ ti Tu¯ wharetoa, Nga¯ ti Hineuru, Waikato Tainui, Nga¯ ti Kuri) said the partnership was a ‘‘wonderful opportunity’’ to ensure Ma¯ ori women and girls could ‘‘equally participate, compete and build careers in play, active recreation and sport’’.

‘‘And … ensure that indigenous women and girls can enjoy all the opportunities that sport and recreation offers too,’’ she said.

‘‘[We] want to help develop a sport and recreation environment where Ma¯ ori and indigenous women and girls can thrive and fully participate. These opportunities need to be distributed to all women and girls equally,’’ Wall said.

Former Black Fern and academic Dr Farah Palmer (Nga¯ ti Maniapoto, Waikato Tainui) is the only Ma¯ ori woman and one of two women on the NZ Rugby board. In the state sector, as of 2019, wa¯ hine Ma¯ ori made up 11.5 per cent of all appointed board members, according to the Ministry for Women.

In sport, by the end of the year, all organisations that receive more than $50,000 in government funding must have at least 40 per cent female representation on their boards, or funding could be risked. Rugby NZ will not make the deadline.

‘‘Ma¯ori women are highly capable and confident; it is about making sure the system is set up so there are opportunities for Ma¯ori women to get into these leadership roles,’’ Palmer said. ‘‘Ma¯ ori women have a lot of mana. Often the first voice you hear on the marae is the kaikaranga – a Ma¯ ori women’s role – and I know lots of aunties on the marae who boss us around. So they do have mana, they do have speaking rights in the whare.’’