Ki-O-Rahi

Ki-O-Rahi is a traditional Maori team sport that was made centuries ago. Ki-O-Rahi was based on the legend about Rahitutakahina and the rescue of his wife Tiarakurapakewai where they invented the game as a way to resolve disputes peacefully. Ki-O-Rahi is a sport that includes strategy ,  speed , strength , accurate ball handling skills and teamwork.

In the legend about Rahi his wife Tiara was abducted by the Patupaiarehe. The Patupaiarehe who cast a spell on the forest dragged Tiara through the forest.

So Rahi got ready for his journey to save his wife by packing up some moa eggs and food. Rahi made a manu tangata (kite) to try and travel to the forest where

Patupaiarehe were hiding Tiara.

      

     How to play Ki-O-Rahi

First you need a circular field. You also need 7 poles which you need to make into an inner and an outer circle. You need to make an Ara which is a line through all the circles.

There are 2 teams named Taniwha and Kioma. Taniwha has to hit Te Tupu and Kioma has to touch pou with the ball then get a try. 5 people from each team are allowed to be in the middle circle. 3 from Kioma can be defending Te Tupu in the inner circle.  

If your tag gets ripped off you only have 3 seconds to pass but if 2 tags get ripped its a handover instantly. If Kioma get a try you have to restart the game over again by 1 person from Taniwha throwing it from Marama.

There are 3 version to play Ki-O-Rahi there's a tackling version a tag version and a touch version too.Ki-O Rahi is becoming more popular and more competitive. Its also a school competition.