Nā Shakayla Andrews-Alapaki tēnei atikara.
More than 120 kaumātua gathered at Cowles Stadium in Ōtautahi for Ara Rau, Ora Rau, a day dedicated to hauora, connection and traditional Māori activities.
The inaugural event brought kaumātua from across Ōtautahi together to take part in taonga tākaro, health-focused activities and opportunities to reconnect with one another.
Among those attending was Te Whakatōhea kaumātua Morgan Kahika, who said he learned about the event through his healthcare provider.
"Ka haere ahau ki te tuku i te tuku tākuta, ko te oranga," he said.
"Ka kitea te pānui, ka haramai ahau ki te tautoko, ki te titiro i ōku hoa kaumātua, ngā kuia."
Organised by Sport Canterbury, He Waka Tapu, Hāpai Te Hauora, Te Whatu Ora and Christchurch City Council, the event highlighted traditional Māori games and activities as a way to support healthy ageing.
Sport Canterbury Rautaki Māori Lead, Heperi Harris said the kaupapa gave kaumātua an opportunity to reconnect with the games and practices of their ancestors.
"Ko te hiahia o ngā kaumātua kia tākaro i ēnei kēmu o ngā mātua tīpuna, ko mūtōrere, ko ngā mahi poi, ko te karawhiu, patu haere, ko te hono ki ētahi rauemi o te taiao, ngā rākau Māori, me ngā kōhatu o te takiwā nei, koinei ngā mea nui."
According to Stats NZ, more than 2,600 kaumātua live in Ōtautahi. Harris said the benefits of the event extended beyond physical activity.
"Ehara ko te whakapakari tinana anake ngā huanga. Mō ētahi, te whakakoi i te hinengaro, te tuku i ngā kōrero ki ā rātou hoa, te hono, te kata, ērā momo. Koira te ataahua."
Joe Ngata of Ngāti Porou said seeing kaumātua gathered together was a highlight of the day.
"Te ātaahua te kite i ngā kanohi o ngā pakeke i konei, ngā kuia, ngā koroua."
"I haere mai i runga i te aroha nā, kia kitea tētahi ki tētahi."
Mahora Patterson of Tūhoe said the activities supported her health and wellbeing.
"He korikori tinana, he take hauora, tōku manawa ... ko tērā mea i whakaora i ahau, whakaora taku tinana," she said.
Organisers hope Ara Rau, Ora Rau will become an annual event, providing an ongoing opportunity for kaumātua to stay active and engaged in their communities.
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Neke atu i te 120 ngā kaumātua i hui ai ki Cowles Stadium i Ōtautahi mō Ara Rau, Ora Rau, he kaupapa hei whakanui i te hauora, te noho ngātahi me te tākaro me ngā tāonga tuku iho a te Māori.
Koinei te wā tuatahi kua tū tēnei kaupapa, ā, i whakakotahi mai i ngā kaumātua nō ngā tōpito katoa o Ōtautahi kia whai wāhi atu ki ngā taonga tākaro, ngā mahi hauora me ngā ara e whakapakari ai ngā hononga ki waenganui i a rātou.
Ko tētahi o ngā tāngata i tae atu ko te kaumātua o Te Whakatōhea, a Morgan Kahika, nāna i kī i rongo ia mō te kaupapa i tana haerenga ki tētahi ratonga hauora.
"Ka haere ahau ki te tuku i te tuku takuta, ko te oranga."
"Ka kitea te pānui, ka haramai ahau ki te tautoko, ki te titiro i ōku hoa kaumātua, ngā kuia."
Nā Sport Canterbury, He Waka Tapu, Hāpai Te Hauora, Te Whatu Ora me Te Kaunihera o Ōtautahi te kaupapa i whakarite. Ko te aronga matua ko te whakatairanga i te hauora mā roto mai i ngā tākaro me ngā mahi tuku iho a te Māori.
Hei tā te Kaiārahi Rautaki Māori o Sport Canterbury, a Heperi Harris, he ara tēnei mā ngā kaumātua kia hoki anō ki ngā tākaro me ngā tikanga i waihotia mai e ngā tūpuna.
"Ko te hiahia o ngā kaumātua kia tākaro i ēnei kēmu o ngā mātua tīpuna, ko Mūtōrere, ko ngā mahi poi, ko te karawhiu, patu haere, ko te hono ki ētahi rauemi o te taiao, ngā rākau Māori, me ngā kōhatu o te takiwā nei, koinei ngā mea nui."
E ai ki Tatauranga Aotearoa, neke atu i te 2,600 ngā kaumātua e noho ana ki Ōtautahi. Hei tā Harris, ehara i te mea ko te korikori tinana anake te hua o tēnei kaupapa.
"Ehara ko te whakapakari tinana anake ngā huanga. Mō ētahi, te whakakoi i te hinengaro, te tuku i ngā kōrero ki ā rātou hoa, te hono, te kata, ērā momo. Koira te ataahua."
Hei tā Joe Ngata nō Ngāti Porou, ko te tino painga o te rā ko te kite i ngā kaumātua e hui tahi ana.
"Te ātaahua te kite i ngā kanohi o ngā pakeke i konei, ngā kuia, ngā koroua."
"I haere mai i runga i te aroha nā, kia kitea tētahi ki tētahi."
Ko Mahora Patterson nō Tūhoe tētahi atu i whai wāhi atu. Hei tāna, he tino painga ngā mahi o te rā ki tōna oranga whānui.
"He korikori tinana, he take hauora, tōku manawa ... ko tērā mea i whakaora i ahau, whakaora taku tinana."
E manako ana ngā kaiwhakarite kia tū anō a Ara Rau, Ora Rau ā ngā tau e heke mai nei, hei kaupapa e tautoko tonu ana i te hauora, te korikori me te noho ngātahi o ngā kaumātua i roto i ō rātou hapori.